Height30-50cm

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• Compact, dense deciduous shrub (typically 0.5–1.5 m, sometimes up to ~1.8 m) with neat, lobed green foliage that holds well to the ground.
• Excellent for formal or informal hedges, screening, borders, foundation planting, or ground cover.
• Highly tolerant of shade, urban pollution, salt (coastal), and a wide range of soils; fully hardy. 
• Low-maintenance once established, responds well to heavy pruning/shearing, and is generally deer- and rabbit-resistant.
• Native to parts of northern England and Wales; wildlife-friendly (early flowers for pollinators; berries for birds if male + female plants are present). Flowers and fruit are inconspicuous and of limited ornamental or culinary value.

Planting & Growing

• When: Best in late autumn to spring.
• Where: Full sun to full shade (densest growth and best flowering in sun/light shade); exposed or sheltered sites.
• Soil: Most well-drained soils (chalk, loam, sand, clay); moist but not waterlogged; tolerates poor, alkaline or acidic conditions. Improve drainage if needed and add organic matter on very free-draining or dry soils.
• How: Dig a hole the same depth as the root (or slightly deeper for better establishment). Space 40–100 cm apart for hedges (closer for denser screens) or ~1–2 m for specimen/ground-cover use. Firm soil, water thoroughly, and mulch.
• Care: Water regularly in the first year. Once established it is fairly drought-tolerant. Prune after flowering or as needed to shape (tolerates hard pruning). Minimal fertiliser required.

Generally trouble-free, though occasional aphids, gall mites or leaf spots can appear. Ideal low-fuss structural plant for challenging sites.

Photo Credit: By Manfred Schulenburg - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79277352 (cropped)