Leycesteria formosa Little Lanterns

The Leycesteria formosa 'Little Lanterns' stands out with its golden foliage on a plant of modest size, just over 1m (3 ft 4 in) in all directions. It forms a deciduous bush, upright and bushy, compact. In spring, its new shoots are red and its young foliage is lime green, before turning golden yellow in summer. From July to October, its small white flowers carried by long bracts in dark red spikes are very decorative. Later, the flowers are replaced by juicy purple berries that birds love. This variety is perfect for borders or containers.

The Leycesteria, also known as Pheasant Berry or Himalayan Honeysuckle, is a bush from the Caprifoliaceae family. Native to Asia, it owes its name to William Leycester, an English magistrate passionate about botany, and its nickname, as one can guess, to its great popularity among pheasants! The 'Little Lanterns' pheasant berry stands out for its compact growth. It reaches 1.25m (4 ft 1 in) in all directions at maturity. Its green branches, rigid, hollow, and slightly curved at maturity, give it an attractive appearance - even in winter when they are devoid of leaves. It is fast-growing. Flowering takes place in late summer and early autumn. The bush is covered with small white flowers surrounded by bracts of a rich and deep purple, giving the bush a somewhat exotic look. Its long, oval leaves emerge tinted with orange to coppery red in spring, turning a beautiful chartreuse green to golden yellow during summer, contrasting beautifully with the violet bracts. Its burgundy red fruits are spherical, shiny, and appear after flowering, from August to November. Often, the clusters are simultaneously covered with berries at their base and flowers at their tip.

The Leycesteria thrives in partial shade or non-burning sun, in all types of soil (preferably fertile and well-drained). Robust, it resists diseases, pollution, and seaside conditions well. Pruning is not obligatory, but a short pruning of the stems in late winter allows your Leycesteria to start anew (flowers appear on the wood of the current year). The foliage color of Little Lanterns varies depending on its exposure to the sun: if the plant is too shaded, the foliage will be less bright. It pairs beautifully with plants with purple foliage, such as Harlequin Japanese Barberry or Sand Cherry. It finds its place in a flowering hedge, in the heart of a shrub bed, or even as a standalone alongside white or light pink shrub roses as well as Mexican Orange Blossom. It can also be grown in a container, but remember to bring it indoors in winter, as it is more vulnerable to winter cold in containers than in the ground.

Caution: the berries, although appetizing, are quite indigestible. It's better to leave them to the birds!