Lovely violet berries on bare branches. Position: sun or dappled shade Soil: fertile, well-drained soil. Can tolerate some lime in the soil. Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July Hardiness: fully hardy This lovely deciduous shrub has clusters of small pink flowers in midsummer, but it's really prized for the clusters of striking, violet, bead-like berries that often appear on more mature plants in autumn - usually remaining long after the plant has lost its leaves. The young foliage is often bronze-purple, becoming dark green in summer before turning golden-purple in autumn. Use it to brighten up a border in autumn, or cut the bare branches laden with berries for flower arrangements. Garden care: Incorporate plenty of well-rotted organic matter into the planting hole. Prune back stems in early spring, if necessary, cutting back to a permanent framework.
