A golden-leaved deciduous shrub with insect pollinating lilac flowers. Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, light, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August to September Hardiness: fully hardy This is one of those wonderful plants that will help extend the season of interest well into the autumn. It starts to produce its clusters of rich cobalt blue flowers in late summer, and these will really help get the garden buzzing as they bring in lots of bees and butterflies. They also offer a dazzling contrast to the yellow-green leaves. An award-winning, well behaved deciduous shrub that is noted for its ease of growth. Garden care: In March prune all of the flowered stems back hard to the permanent framework. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base of the plant.
