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Leycesteria formosa

Common name:	Himalayan Honeysuckle	Family:	Caprifoliaceae
Author:	Wall.	Botanical references:	51, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - China to the Himalayas. An occasional garden escape in Britain.
Habitat:	Scrub and shady forests, often by streams, to 3000 metres[51].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Himalayan Honeysuckle [P], Himalayan-honeysuckle [B],
Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	formosa = beautiful;
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Dipsacales. Honeysuckle family

Physical Characteristics

A decidious shrub growing to 2.5m by 2.5m at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 7. It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from October to November. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit? - one unconfirmed report said that the fruit is edible. It has a very bitter taste and is not very desirable, though the birds love it[K].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Musical.

The hollow stems can be made into whistles and flutes[146, 158].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most fertile soils, preferably of a woodland nature[1, 11]. In Britain it grows better in full sun than in shade[11]. Tolerates limy soils[200]. Tolerates urban pollution, maritime conditions and windswept locations[200], though not full maritime exposure[K].
This species is hardy to -15°c[184], it can be cut to the ground in severe winters but usually resprouts from the base[200].
The flowers, which are delicately scented, are borne at the end of the current season's growth[245].
Birds, especially pheasants, are very fond of the fruit[11, 182]. Plants frequently self-sow when growing in suitable conditions[182].
Plants do not normally need pruning though weak shoots can be cut back to ground level in the spring in order to encourage more vigorous growth[188].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in late autumn[78]. Very easy when done this way[11], it germinates in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer or following spring. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and can take more than a year to germinate. Sow it as soon as possible in a cold frame.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Plant out in spring. Good percentage[78].
Cuttings of mature wood, 20 - 25cm with a heel, planted in open ground in October/November. Good percentage[78].
Cuttings of greenwood in spring in a frame[1].
Division in autumn[200]. Very simple, plant the divisions out direct into their permanent positions.

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers are delicately scented.

Suppliers

Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.

Wildwood Nurseries: Lower Manor Cottage
Thornbury
Holsworthy
Devon
EX22 7DD
Email: lorna@macace.co.uk
Phone 01409 261324 Fax 01409 261324
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Wildwood by email/phone
Last Updated: March 03
Item: Leycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle, pheasant's berry)

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Caprifoliaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[51] Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984
A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[146] Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972
Written last century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.

[158] Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945
A good flora for the middle Himalayan forests, sparsly illustrated. Not really for the casual reader.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

Leycesteria formosa

Ellen Rumwell (rumwell@msn.com) Thu Jul 13 21:13:21 2000

..Some bits of the preceding information is so different from what I've experienced with the plant; I just wanted to share my "truths"!. This is of my favorite plants EVER. It can actually *grow quite large*..I've never let it just "go" completely, but I'd guess it woudl get to about 10'tall x 5-6' wide. Without pruning definatly shrubby..with long kind of graceful stalks mixed with shorter, straighter ones..The long cascading flowers are FABULOUS.. in full flower, as flower and berry combo.. and when all the flowers fall and it's just a cascade of red berries. Beautiful. It also *grows quite happily in my bog!*..Very heavy clay soil that is frequently puddled (I live in Seattle). *You can also hedge it*. Within a day or two of any cut there is incredible foliage growth..so in peak growing time I think it would make a fairly thick barrier. So...while cutting frequently will give you thicker and thicker foliage-- you lose some of the flowering..Flowers are much more prolific on relatively untended branches. I have also been entirely incapable of propigating it. I've tried most methods..but have gotten nowhere!

..In synopsis: this is a great plant for this area!. It is also fairly rare, and a good piece to show neighbors. I highly recommend it for all zones that can give it enough water and keep it out of day-long direct sun. I have it planted mainly with houtuynia with spots of yellow iris and the cardinal red lobelia...

Details of Growing Condition: Growing now in Bellevue, Washington USA..Zone 7-9 (depends on the book!!) Hardiness conditions listed in comments.

Leycesteria formosa

Martin marsh Tue Aug 1 22:02:00 2000

didn't realy understand the above tables, is there a key? any way,about the plant.I am growing it in Telford Shropshire U.K. I was given it as a cutting from my father who grows it in dorset U.K. It didnt do much the first year,but it's now in its second year and its doing fine. its now upto 7 feet high and in flower. I think it is a very under rated plant which will do well in most gardens. I have it as the edge of a small water feature (ok so its a big rock with a hole drilled through it) The plants arching, weeping appearance, combined with contrasting greens of old and new foliage offset by the wine/white colour of the flowers complements it well. I shall have to wait and see if turns out to be too large for our small garden, however at the moment its ideal.

Details of Growing Condition: Telford shropshire England. full morning sun,dappled sun midday. soil slightly acid medium drainage. .

Leycesteria formosa

Hans Perneel (hans.perneel@ping.be) Mon Dec 04 14:40:59 2000

I have grown a plant called Leycesteria formosa, and this plant is edible (I eat it about 2 years and I'm stil alive and well) it has a special taste a bit like burnt sugar (dont know the name on english) fruits very well ,and in fact it is plenty on fruit now and into the database, they say they dont know this, i should say try it its very good but must be fully ripe (dark brown berry's).

Leycesteria formosa

Tue Aug 21 11:14:12 2001

Useful plant for screening, will grow happily under trees. Good for plant supports (beware, green material will regrow) and fabulous for pea shooters for the kids. Berries are very palatable and taste of caramel if you pop them out of their skins before eating. Still alive after several years successive feasting. Birds and bees love this plant and so do I, even if it doesn't have much snob appeal!

Details of Growing Condition: Almost any soil (I have moved house a lot), very tolerant of shade. Cut down in early spring to promote new growth. Growing 3 miles from North Sea coast in Norfolk, E.England .

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Bibliography

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Leycesteria+formosa
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We make no claims of magical effects or supernatural powers for any item in this catalog. In spite of legendary attributes or occult and craft tradition, such items are offered as curios only and beliefs concerning their magical effectiveness are related only for historical interest.