Leycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle)

Other names: Flowering nutmeg, Granny's curls, Pheasant berry

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

Find out howHide details

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

ShootChecker™
One-stop garden design
Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started

Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Hide details

Add to plant list

1 of 7

Species

L. formosa is a vigorous, deciduous shrub grown for its pendant racemes of white flowers and showy, dark red bracts and purple-red pendant clusters of berries in autumn.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
2.5 m	2.5 m	5-10 years
8 ft	8 ft	5-10 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

2.5 m

5-10 years

8 ft

5-10 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Chalky
Clay
Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained
Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid
Alkaline
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Partial Shade
Full Sun

Aspect

East
West
South
North

Exposure

Sheltered

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in free-draining soil in sun or dappled shade in a sheltered position. Dislikes heavy, wet soils.

Suggested uses

Coastal, Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Low Maintenance, Woodland

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

4, 5, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Moderate/Medium
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Unknown
South Inland = Unknown
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Upright

Native to

Himalayas, China

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

Yes

Fragrance

Fruit is fragrant.

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Propagation methods

Seed, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

Other plants

Companion plants (3)

Select all Deselect all

0 selected Add to a plant list

0 selected

Nandina domestica Heavenly bamboo

Deutzia x hybrida 'Mont Rose' Deutzia 'Mont Rose'

Nandina domestica 'Fire Power' Heavenly bamboo 'Fire Power'

Related content

what are the propagation methods for the leycesteria formosa ?

Yefferson O'Sullivan

790 0

what are the propagation methods for the leycesteria formosa ?

Posted: Thursday 10th of December 2015 09:02 PM Last reply: Thursday 6th of March 2025 12:42 PM

Re: Re: Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)

Shoot User

1474 0

Hi Cathy,
Thank you so much for you quick response. I am delighted all is not lost and I will put that advice to good use. Thank you again for your time!!
Ann

Posted: Thursday 28th of October 2010 06:22 AM

Re: Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)

Kathy N

1474 1

Hi, Ann,
I suspect when it was damaged by frost, many of the buds were killed (it flowers on the previous year's growth and the best time to prune is early autumn). But, it couldn't have been helped. Apply a thick, dry winter mulch this autumn and keep the plant sheltered from cold, drying winds. If spring frost/snow is expected, protect with hessian or horticultural fleece. Hopefully this will give it the rest/protection it needs to put on a great show next year.
Kathy C

Posted: Wednesday 27th of October 2010 06:33 PM

Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)

Shoot User

1474 1

I have had this in the garden for two years flowering beautifully and this year the leaves were very small and the flowers were tiny and sparse.
Can anyone tell me what I have done wrong please?
In the spring it was attacked with the frost/snow and the tips went black which I chopped off!.
Many thanks for any help as usual.
Oh - it is about 7 foot tall and the clump is about 2 feet across.

Posted: Wednesday 27th of October 2010 01:40 PM Last reply: Friday 7th of March 2025 04:58 PM

How nice of you to be back!

Nicola

1266 0

Hi Martin - very happy to see a note from you. Many thanks for your advice for Anne too. She might not see it as you added your reply as a new thread. So I've added a link so she can find your answer and offer of help too. All the best, Nicola

Posted: Saturday 3rd of October 2009 01:05 PM Last reply: Saturday 3rd of October 2009 01:05 PM

Thanks for the reply Andrew!

Nicola

1754 0

It is nice to see you here! Nicola

Posted: Saturday 3rd of October 2009 01:03 PM Last reply: Saturday 3rd of October 2009 01:03 PM