Eleutherococcus setchuenensis

Eleutherococcus setchuenensis brings bold, architectural character to the garden with its open, arching framework and dramatic spiny, compound foliage. Native to the mountain woodlands of south-west China, this rare deciduous shrub delivers strong tropical-style texture while remaining impressively tough and adaptable. Yellow-green flowers appear in July in rounded umbels, drawing bees and other pollinators, before giving way to large clusters of glossy black fruit that persist from late summer into winter, adding striking seasonal interest. Shade tolerant, drought resilient and happy in stony soils, it excels in naturalistic planting schemes, woodland margins and challenging sites, where it also helps stabilise slopes with ease.Ultimate height and spread: 3m (9.8ft).