Recommendations for a flowering shrub please!

[Paulieb]

Lecesteria Formosa

Nice bright green leaves in summer, followed by white / red flowers and bracts, then the berry-like seed which attract blackbirds and bullfinches in our garden.
It will grow in almost any conditions, doesn't mind sun or shade. - Here is ours, picture taken last spring and the flower bract pictured in late summer

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Web link: Leycesteria formosa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

a-a

Woo hoo. Just ID'd the shrub in my garden. Thanks aa.

Its really nice shrub and requires not much care. For the last 2 years its continually thrown up new stalks after a harsh pruning. It does benefit from support of growing against the house wall though, which is east facing.

[veggiechicken]

Beware of it as it spreads rapidly - possibly through the birds dropping the seeds. I thought it was pretty - once. Now its everywhere

[chris]

Yup, we had one in the front garden, but now in the back we've about 30 odd young bushes of it. Think it's called commonly Pheasant Berry, or Himalayan Honeysuckle - though haven't read the link above!

[jessmorris]

Blimey!!!!!!!

thanks jess - i don't know that shrub at all! It gets mixed messages on pfaf calycanthus occidentalis californian allspice pfaf plant database the bark is a substitute for cinnamon and allspice but it is also similar to strychnine and toxic to humans and livestock

[Two_Sheds]

Beware of it as it spreads rapidly - possibly through the birds dropping the seeds. I thought it was pretty - once. Now its everywhere

I hate it too. There's one at school which is always trying to take over the bed it's been planted in. It's like a hydra: I keep cutting it, it comes back stronger