Scientific name: Leycesteria formosa
Family: CAPRIFOLIACEAE
Common names: “Himalayan honeysuckle” “Granny’s curls”
Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
Conditions:
Zone: 9-10
Light: Full sun best – partial shade
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Average – moderately fertile
Moisture: Well drained average moisture, more for bigger green leaves, in dry shade the stems and leaf-ribs turn red
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: H 8′ W 6′
Leaf and Stem shape: Erect sea-green stems bearing long-pointed, ovate leaves
Flower: pendulous racemes of white flowers with showy red-purple bracts, followed by deep purple berries
Pruning: Prune in Spring, cut out any thin, weak growth and brown older stems, keep the strong thick green stems
Maintenance: Low, grows quickly, annual removal of 1/3, self sows seedlings
Landscape use: Wildlife garden, cottage, informal
Propagate: By seed and cuttings
Pests & Disease: None in Victoria
♥Attracts hummingbirds
Comments: Considered invasive in some regions
