Weed or shrub

[John P]

This has been in my garden a number of years. I never planted it there. It just popped up and I keep chopping it down. It does have some attractive little flowers. Any comments please.

John

[Chad]

Leycesteria formosa, a lovely fleshy shrub that copes with being cut to the ground if it gets untidy.

It self sows all over the place though, so not everyone will want one.

Chad

[MartinNicklin]

A good plant can be quite impressive with long tassels. I adore my Golden Lanterns cultivar with its gold and red leaves but the tassels aren’t quite as long. They respond very well to a hard prune and, like Buddleja, will respond with strong canes and bigger flowers. The fruit is edible, said to taste like raisins but I’m afraid when I tried them, that comparison certainly didn’t occur to me. I did collect some seed from L crocothyrsos whilst down in Cornwall (I think from Glendurgan). Again a lovely shrub but a bit more tender. Alas I couldn’t find the seeds having put them somewhere silly no doubt.

[John P]

Chad and Martin thank you for the information. The more I chop it down the more it seems to grow back. I will be leaving it in its adopted home but keep it well pruned.

John

[flounder]

When the seed pods go all brown and fleshy, give them a squeeze....the smell of caramel is quite distinct....a quick sweety fix when grazing in the garden

[John P]

Thanks Flounder, one to try.

John