Callicarpa are loved for their clusters of lustrous, lilac berries, but 'Issai' tends to have the ability to produce them on much younger plants. Forming along the length length of the stems in autumn, they're often retained long after the last leaf has been shed, really putting on a great display. The small pink flowers which appear in summer, are less showy, but they are pretty - and they're sought after by bees and other pollinators.

Easy, undemanding and relatively compact, these shrubs look great in mixed borders, but they can also be used to make an attractive, informal hedge or screen.