Leycesteria berries

[Mary]

Our Leycesteria has produced masses of 'berries' this year. So far, I've not seen anything eat them. Has anyone else got one and seen the fruits eaten?

[Sleeper]

Hi Mary

If it is the leycesteria formosa I have planted this plant to.

I can not comment on the birds which eat the berries as this is it's first fruiting as It was new last year. I have not got to much in the way of berries although it is still flowering so I will have to wait and see.

I will be dissapointed if the birds ignore the plants berries as I planted it for that reason. I do find that it really is a matter of "suck it and see" as some plants elsewhere attract birds whilst in other places they do not. One thing for sure it will have to earn it's keep or it will have to go!

Interesting to keep up to date with this one so if any berries are taken do let us know.

[David FG]

I have never seen birds taking the berries on mine.

[Mary]

A google search said pheasants like them. Don't have any of them! Have picked a few berries and put them on the bird table, so we'll see.

[d.steeley]

Hi Mary, I know that one of the common names for the plant is Pheasant Berry. Prsumably they have eaten them at some time although I have never seen anything eat them.

Dave

[Wendy Morris]

Our Leycesteria has produced masses of 'berries' this year. So far, I've not seen anything eat them. Has anyone else got one and seen the fruits eaten?
Hello Mary,

Yes, masses of berries as usual, making a mess when you knock into them! Our starlings try to pretend to be hummingbirds and hover over to get to them :bounce: . Some of the branches are really low this year due to the weight of berries and they have also tried `jumping up` to grab what they can. Judging by the splodges of purply coloured poo around, I guess that some of them are being succesful ;) .

[Mary]

I only get occasional starlings, Wendy, so will have to hope they see them. Nothing has taken the ones on the bird table. Never mind!

[Colin C]

Hello Mary,

Its the blackbirds that go mad for the berries on ours - just like Wendy's starlings they jump up and hover just long enough to grab a berry. Its a joy to watch them.

Colin

[Mary]

Cheers Colin. I'll keep an eye out, though our blackbirds are still feeding in the hedgerows just now, with only an occasional garden visit.

[Mary]

At last, the song thrush has been taking the berries! It has hidden under the branches so the blackbirds don't spot it and been able to feed for longer than usual. Definately keeping this plant!

[Sleeper]

Thanks for keeping us up to speed with that.

I niticed the berries have gone but I can not be sure what, if anything, has taken them.

It's a real bonus when a Song Thrush is the culprit.

[Mary]

And this morning, Stephen, the male blackcap was taking them! Brilliant! Made my day!

[Cathy H]

Hi all,

I've been reading this thread and wondering what leycesteria was. I've now looked it up in my gardening book and found that the version I have is the Himalayan Honeysuckle. It had loads of berries on it this year for the first time. I'll have to go down and have a look in the morning and see if there are any left.

Regards, :bounce:

[dampflippers]

Hi, my sister gets bullfinches, and they love leycesteria berries. I have planted one in hope, but have had no luck yet!

[Sleeper]

And this morning, Stephen, the male blackcap was taking them! Brilliant! Made my day!
Lovely Mary

It really is great when the plants you have planted act as a natural source of food. Makes the whole gardening for wildlife worth all the study.

Hope you Blackcap returns.

[Cathy H]

Hi all,

Well. I checked the shrub and the berries are still on the bush. Mind you, it's only the first year we've had berries and the blackbirds have only recently returned to the garden so they may yet find the berries. There's still no sign of the song thrushes however, so we'll have to wait and see.

Cheers, B (: