Florist Christchurch New Zealand News

Christchurch Honeysuckle

Leycesteria formosa - Himalayan honeysuckle

Gardeners in Victorian England loved this decorative deciduous shrub, which is native to southwestern China.

But today it has become so common that it has fallen out of favour in Britain and is rarely planted, except occcasional for foliage contrast at the back of a perennial border.

In Christchurch New Zealand, leycesteria has become such an invasive weed that it is illegal to propagate or for florists to sell it.

In Canada, however, especially on the West Coast, Himalayan honeysuckle, which also goes by the name pheasant berry, is still very popular and widely planted.

It is admired for its attractive purplish-red brachts and white flowers that dangle down in dense clusters from tall, hollow olive green stems.

Purple berries that are produced in fall were eaten by pheasants, which is why the leycesteria was particularly popular in English country estate gardens.

One of the reasons it has not become an invasive problem-plant in Canada is because it is slightly tender and does not tolerate cold or excessively wet winters.

In the perfect location -- a sunny, well-drained spot -- it will grow six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) high and form a fairly dense thicket.

Mulch can be used to protect the roots from being damaged during cold spells, but even it dies down to the ground leycesteria will often revive in the spring.

In fact, some gardeners prefer to treat it in the same way that they deal with buddleia and cut it down close to ground level in late winter to promote fresh new growth every spring.

'Golden Lanters' is a new cultivar that has bright yellow foliage with reddish new growth in addition to the distinctive clusters of maroon bracts and white flowers.