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Enkianthus deflexus

Himalayan red bells

A vigorous, upright, deciduous shrub with red shoots and glossy, oval, bright green leaves turning red and orange in autumn. Produces hanging clusters of bell-shaped, creamy flowers with dark pink veins in late spring and early summer

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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metres
Time to ultimate height
20–50 years
Ultimate spread
2.5–4 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Red Cream Pink Green
Summer Red Cream Pink Green
Autumn Red Orange Red
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Ericaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Enkianthus are deciduous shrubs with simple, alternate leaves often colouring brilliantly in autumn, and umbels of racemes of small urn- or bell-shaped flowers in spring or summer

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Nepal to S China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained, humus-rich, acid or neutral soil in full sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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