Family Caprifoliaceae
Originating from the Himalayas
Received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
- Tubular white flowers with showy red-purple bracts bloom in summer.
- Golden-green leaves with red-flushed new growth shine vibrantly.
- Undemanding to grow in any soil in full sun or part shade.
Golden Lanterns in Your Garden
Sensational golden-green foliage crowns this high-impact shrub, its vigorous stems a beacon in Norfolk borders. Leycesteria formosa ‘Golden Lanterns’ blends refined elegance with bold summer drama, its large, pointed leaves emerging with a striking red flush, captivating up close.
Pendulous clusters of tubular white flowers, nestled in striking burgundy-red bracts, dangle from June to August, followed by glossy purple berries that draw birds. This deciduous shrub, reaching 2.5m high and wide in 5–10 years, thrives in Suffolk’s sunny or partly shaded gardens.
Undemanding in any well-drained soil, its vigorous growth flourishes with minimal care, delivering a multi-season spectacle of foliage, flowers, and fruit. Its upright form adds structure to mixed borders or stands alone as a vibrant focal point in UK landscapes.
Care Tips for the Golden Himalayan Honeysuckle
- Soil and Sun: Grows in any well-drained soil; full sun or part shade suits.
- Planting: Set in spring or autumn; soak roots before planting.
- Watering: Keep moist in first year; tolerates dry spells once mature.
- Pruning: Cut back hard in early spring to encourage vigorous growth.
This shrub’s unique, rich foliage, bold bracts, and berries create a non-stop show, blending elegance and vigor. Its lush, structured canopy, borne on upright hollow stems, suits many styles, from exotic to traditional English. Hardy for all UK gardens, its brilliant colors and bountiful display make it a must-have plant.
Planting Ideas for Golden Lanterns
Embrace the radiantly bright golden foliage of this excellent variety, and its outrageous color scheme too. Be bold with a daring composition of gold, burgundy, and purple. Plant Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ and erubescens ‘Purpurea’ behind it as a backdrop. Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ and ‘Golden Tower’ make large shrub accompaniments.
Add floral impact with Hemerocallis ‘Dominic’ and ‘Applique’. Angelica gigas and Dracunculus vulgaris add their own unique characters and dark, brooding burgundy colors. Euphorbia ‘Phrampton Phatty’ and epithymoides add soft, rounded golden forms, with Kirengeshoma palmata and Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’ smoldering in shady spots.
