Leycesteria
Leycesteria formosa
Also called Himalayan honeysuckle and Pheasant berry
Garden plant · ShrubsHollow green stems — cut one and it is a tube. It seeds itself about freely, and in mild parts of Britain it has gone over the garden wall and kept going.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Once a weekWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade, sheltered
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a cold winter RHS H5, to -15°C
- Size
- 2 m tall · 2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- The Himalaya and south-west China
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The fruit.
HandlingTake care handling it
RHS says to wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling it.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-11.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.