Top 5... shrubs and climbers with unusual fruit
It’s not always about the flowers... the stars of the show on these plants are their crop
1 Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Self-clinging, vigorous deciduous climber. Small, insignificant flowers produce copious clusters of porcelain-coloured fruit. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun. H/S: 4.6-6m (15-20ft). Tip Grow compact, pink variegated form ‘Elegans’ in smaller gardens. From www.morton-nurseries.com; tel: 01777 702530. 2 Colutea arborescens Easily grown, twiggy, deciduous shrub with rounded leaflets. Yellow, pea flowers from June. Inflated seed pods turn red in autumn. H/S: 3m (10ft). Tip Ideal for poor, well-drained soil in sun. From www.burncoose.co.uk; tel: 01209 860316. 3 Decaisnea fargesii Large, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub. Long, ashlike foliage. Yellow-green flowers in June. Fleshy blue beans in autumn. Any moist, well drained soil in sun or semishade. H/S: 4m (13ft). Tip Avoid exposed, windswept positions. From www.suttons.co.uk; tel: 0844 326 2200. 4 Euonymus phellomanus Compact, slow-growing, deciduous shrub with corky stems. Insignificant flowers in spring. Colourful, pendant fruit and good autumn colour. Any moist, well drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H/S: 1.5m (5ft). Tip Needs space to grow well. From www.botanicaplantnursery.co.uk; tel: 01728 747113. 5 Citrus trifoliata Slow-growing, hardy citrus. Evergreen, thorny stems. White flowers in spring. Ripe fruits can be used for flavouring gin! Any welldrained soil in full sun. H/S: 3m (10ft).
Tip In colder areas train against a south-facing wall.
From www.bigplantnursery.co.uk; tel: 01903 891466.