Pheasant Berry

(Leycesteria formosa)

Pheasant Berry (Leycesteria formosa)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Leycesteria formosa, commonly known as Pheasant Berry, is a deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub native to the Himalayas and southwestern China. It thrives in a variety of habitats including forest margins, scrublands, and clearings, often in moist, fertile soils. This species can grow 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) tall, with young stems that are soft, hollow, and upright, displaying a range of colors from green to salmon pink, maroon, and purple. Mature plants may develop woody trunks at the base with rough, grey bark. The leaves are opposite, dark green, cordate, and can be 6–18 cm (2.4–7.1 in) long, with a wavy or lobed margin and a drip tip. The flowers, attractive to bees, appear on pendulous racemes 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) long, each flower small and white to pale pink, with a showy purplish-pink bract. Flowering occurs from mid-summer to early autumn. The berries, initially hard and pink, become soft, deep purple-brown, and sweet when ripe, resembling toffee or caramel in flavor.

Pheasant Berry is valued for its ornamental features, including its attractive flowers and berries, which provide visual interest and wildlife forage. It is used in mixed borders, as a specimen plant, or for naturalistic plantings. The plant is adaptable to a range of conditions, preferring moist but well-drained soils and tolerating full sun to partial shade. It can be pruned back hard if necessary. Leycesteria formosa is known for its resistance to atmospheric pollution, making it suitable for urban gardens. It is also tolerant of windy sites and coastal conditions. However, it can be potentially invasive outside its native range, so gardeners should check local guidelines before planting.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Height: 3-6 feet
  • Width: 3-5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Moderate
  • Flower Color: White, Purple
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Native to the Himalayas and southwestern China, thriving in forest margins, scrublands, and clearings

Other Names

Common Names: Himalayan Honeysuckle, Pheasant-Berry, Himalaya-Honeysuckle, Schöne Leycesterie, Arbre À Faison, Axtry

Scientific Names: , Leycesteria formosa, Leycesteria formosa var. stenosepala, Leycesteria formosa var. brachysepala, Leycesteria formosa var. formosa, Leycesteria formosa var. glandulosissima, Leycesteria limprichtii, Hamelia connata,

GBIF Accepted Name: Leycesteria formosa Wall.