Leycesteria formosa seeds

Leycesteria formosa is a shrub with the evocative nickname Pheasant Berry, because its seeds are loved by these birds. It is fast-growing, forming a dense, upright clump, 2m in height. Its beautiful, bright green foliage has superb autumn colours. In summer, the shrub flowers for a long time in the form of long, pendulous cymes, consisting of purple-red bracts that encircle white flowers. The berries that follow are equally ornamental and persist until the frosts. Propagation is possible by seed, but the result can sometimes be unreliable and may require several months of waiting. It is therefore more often propagated by cuttings.

Leycesteria formosa, occasionally called Himalayan Honeysuckle, is a shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family. Following an evolution in botanical systematics, this family now contains only five genera, the most common in our gardens being Honeysuckle, with its often powerfully fragrant flowers, and Snowberries, valued for their highly decorative small fruits. The Leycesteria genus includes only six Asian species, including L. formosa, which, despite its name, is not native to Formosa (the former name of Taiwan), but to a large Himalayan area, stretching from Kashmir to Yunnan and western Sichuan in China. In these regions, it grows in thickets and forests near watercourses, at altitudes of 2000 to 3000m. Its name honours William Leycester, a British magistrate with a keen interest in botany.
This shrub with an upright and bushy habit quickly reaches medium dimensions, around 2 metres in height and 1.5 metres in spread at maturity. Its green, rigid, hollow stems, slightly arching with age, are decorative, even in winter when the foliage has fallen. The elliptical leaves are elongated and pointed, measuring 5 to 18cm in length. The leaves are a beautiful bright green, darker depending on the exposure, enhanced by slightly reddish veins. The flowering appears on the current year's growth from June-July until September. During this period, the plant is adorned with small white flowers, surrounded and highlighted by purple-red bracts, giving the whole an architectural and colourful aesthetic. After flowering, round, shiny, purple berries appear from August to November. It is not uncommon to see both flowers and fruits on the same cluster, the former at the top, the latter at the base. In autumn, the foliage turns orange-yellow to end the season beautifully.

Undemanding Pheasant Berry appreciates partial shade or gentle sun, in ordinary soil, but ideally rich and well-drained. It doesn't like lime, preferring neutral to slightly acidic soil, remaining moist in summer. When these conditions are not met, its lifespan will be shorter, with new shoots becoming less abundant each spring. With good hardiness (-15°C to -18°C), it tolerates pollution well and shows little susceptibility to disease. Pruning is optional; however, hard pruning at the end of winter stimulates growth and encourages abundant flowering, as this develops on the current year's shoots. Despite its exotic origin, its natural habit and slightly wild appearance allow it to integrate quite easily into a rustic, informal hedge. Plant it alongside a Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade', a horticultural variety of European Spindle, to achieve a colour contrast. The dark green leaves of the latter will contrast with the lighter tones of the Leycesteria, and its intense red autumn colours will ideally accompany those of your Pheasant Berry. Even the pink and orange fruits of the Spindle will prolong this celebration of colour. Amelanchier canadensis will also be a good companion, offering brilliant white spring flowering, followed by red, then black, decorative and edible fruits and finally a firework display of autumn colours.