Leycesteria formosa |
Native Region: East China to the Himalayas
Zone Range: 6-9
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining garden soil.
Harvest Date: Friday 12 October, 2012
Seed count: 30-40
Description:
A lovely multi stemmed shrub with blue-green bamboo like hollow stems and soft heart shaped leaves. Pale pink tubular shaped flower gather in teired clusters between layers of purple-magenta coloured bracts on the stem tips. Blooms from June until frost in warmer climates or mid September in colder wetter climates of Zone 7). In Autumn, reddish berries ripen to a near black. Very edible and are usually taken by the birds before the kids can get them. Easy to grow. Flowers on new wood. Reaches 2 meters in height with nearly the equal spread.
Notes:
Can be a shrub in warmer climates, but in colder climates, it is a subshrub needing an insulating layer of mulch to keep the cold away from the root crown. The top growth may die, but come Spring, new growth springs forth to provide another months long display. Considered invasive in Australia, but here in the colder climes of British Columbia (Pacific Northwest) it hasn't shown this invasive tendency.
Cultivation:
Seed needs light to germinate. Prepare a level sowing surface of equal parts sand and compost. Press seed into the surface. Mist well. Keep moist. A clear plastic cover greatly improves success. Will germinate in 30-60 days at 15-20 C.
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