Floral with notes of pineapple, strawberry and banana… we could be talking about a wine-tasting flavor profile, but those descriptors also paint an olfactory picture of the fragrance produced by the leaves and showy burgundy flowers of this low-maintenance, deciduous shrub. Don’t let the fantastic smell lure you into tasting it, though- its mildly toxic properties help it put up a good fight against deer. Sweet with a little bit of spice, you might say! It also has winter interest in the form of large, urn-shaped seed pods, and the foliage turns clear yellow in autumn. This is one of the best shrubs for tough shady sites.
Conditions: Full sun to shade; average soil; adaptable
Size: 6’-10’ tall, 6'-10' spread
Zone: 4 - 9
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract flies and beetles; branching habit provides nesting for birds
Photo: Samantha Nestory