I have Leycesteria formosa but didn't know it as Pheasant Berry - I call mine himalayan honeysuckle! It can grow a lot in a year - mine foms a short tunnel once through an arch in a hazel hedge. Mine doesn't seem to mind hard pruning to keep it in check
I was looking at plants on ebay the other day and there was two pheasant berry plug plants went for 16 quid and then 3 quid postage on top!!.There was 12 bids. I couldnt believe what some people will pay. I did have one in the ground and it was a lovely big shrub but had mygarden re-done and it was removed. I do have one in a large pot now, and to be honest this is its first season so i dont really know how it will get on. I think the flowers are lovely and its quite an unusual looking plant
I have a Leycesteria and I love it. Yes it does grow quickly but you just cut it back every year and up it comes again. The blackbirds love the berries and it self seeds all over the place, easy to pull out tho. I also have an Acanthus I bought last year at a table top sale. It has grown quite large and has three big tall buds just opening. I have heard since that they spread rapidly and are difficult to get rid of once established. Not sure wether to dig it up and bin once it has flowered or leave it and see how it goes. Anybody had any problems with theirs ?
Loreei, if you love the acanthus then put it in but I don't love it and had the devil's own job getting rid of one that I inherited.
Leycesteria owners, could you explain a bit more about the cutting back. Is it really drastic as with buddleia or 1 in 3 every year like coloured dogwood or something else?
I remove about a third of the stems each spring from my Leycesteria and cut back the remaining stems by about a third. This keeps it a manageable size. I haven't had any problems with it self seeding.
I have both the basic dark leaved and the golden lycesteria in pots (now there is a surprise) where they remain well controlled but still have those wonderful flower tassels to enjoy.
I had a happy leycesteria that made babies so I kept one and potted the others up for friends. However they have both fallen victim to last year's bad winter and the one I rescued and tried to nurture in a pot died after this spring's late frosts.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
What a shame, if the ones you gave to your friends get big, maybe they can return the favour and give you some back? I was given a white agapanthus by a friend a few years ago, and was able to return some to her a couple of years later when hers died in the biotter cold of 18 months ago - mine was in the greenhouse and came through.
Thanks MuddyFork and Bookertoo too :- ) for the advice and suggestions. Leycesteria was suggested for my chicken-roaming area - nothing small has a chance of surviving there.
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I have Leycesteria formosa but didn't know it as Pheasant Berry - I call mine himalayan honeysuckle! It can grow a lot in a year - mine foms a short tunnel once through an arch in a hazel hedge. Mine doesn't seem to mind hard pruning to keep it in check
I was looking at plants on ebay the other day and there was two pheasant berry plug plants went for 16 quid and then 3 quid postage on top!!.There was 12 bids. I couldnt believe what some people will pay. I did have one in the ground and it was a lovely big shrub but had mygarden re-done and it was removed. I do have one in a large pot now, and to be honest this is its first season so i dont really know how it will get on. I think the flowers are lovely and its quite an unusual looking plant
leycesteria is known as Pheasant berry due to it's being used as Pheasant cover. They love the berries too.
Loreei, if you love the acanthus then put it in but I don't love it and had the devil's own job getting rid of one that I inherited.
Leycesteria owners, could you explain a bit more about the cutting back. Is it really drastic as with buddleia or 1 in 3 every year like coloured dogwood or something else?
I remove about a third of the stems each spring from my Leycesteria and cut back the remaining stems by about a third. This keeps it a manageable size. I haven't had any problems with it self seeding.
I have both the basic dark leaved and the golden lycesteria in pots (now there is a surprise) where they remain well controlled but still have those wonderful flower tassels to enjoy.
I had a happy leycesteria that made babies so I kept one and potted the others up for friends. However they have both fallen victim to last year's bad winter and the one I rescued and tried to nurture in a pot died after this spring's late frosts.
What a shame, if the ones you gave to your friends get big, maybe they can return the favour and give you some back? I was given a white agapanthus by a friend a few years ago, and was able to return some to her a couple of years later when hers died in the biotter cold of 18 months ago - mine was in the greenhouse and came through.
Thanks MuddyFork and Bookertoo too :- ) for the advice and suggestions. Leycesteria was suggested for my chicken-roaming area - nothing small has a chance of surviving there.