Our Himalayan Honeysuckle

Our Himalayan Honeysuckle

Incredibly reliable and requiring so little attention our two Leycesteria formosa or Himalayan Honeysuckle are real beacons in the garden at this time of year.  Making a change from the usual green, there are several of these golden forms in cultivation and ours always catches the eye of visitors especially now when the rest of the garden is starting to lose its vibrancy.

They gently set seed that is true to form, reaching about 1.8m in height, and with their contrasting purple calyxes and berries are a great addition to any garden.  We usually simply prune out the dead stems but if they should start to look a bit tired can be cut right to the ground.  They're such a great addition to the garden and we wouldn’t be without ours.


Greener gardening - leave room for ladybirds

Ladybirds are a welcome sight in our gardens, helping to keep aphids and other pests under control.  They’re brightly coloured and distinctive, so where do they hide in winter? Ladybirds...
Read More

Garden gadgets - compressed compost

One of the most interesting innovations in gardening lately is compressed coir compost. Coir is a natural fibre which comes from the outer husk of coconuts, and is being used...
Read More

Wildlife in the garden - fieldfare

Fieldfares are visitors to our gardens and parks during the winter months - they come to the UK from Scandinavia and Russia from September to April, sticking to rural areas...
Read More