Yes, it is fully hardy throughout the UK (RHS H6) and withstands temperatures down to roughly -20C once established. It needs no winter protection in the open garden, though a mulch helps young plants through their first winter.

Plant it in full sun for the richest dark-purple foliage and the best autumn colour. A reasonably sheltered position in moist but well-drained soil suits it best, and it is happy on chalk, clay, loam or sandy ground.

Left unpruned it reaches around 3-5 m tall and wide over 10-20 years, forming a large rounded shrub. You can keep it much smaller and bushier by hard-pruning, also called coppicing, in early spring.

It is deciduous, dropping its leaves each autumn. Before they fall the wine-purple foliage turns spectacular shades of scarlet, red and orange, giving a fiery late-season display.

For larger plumes of smoky flowers, simply tidy and lightly shape after flowering. For the boldest, biggest leaves on a compact frame, hard-prune in early spring, accepting that this reduces flowering that year. Wear gloves, as the sap can irritate skin.

We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process. 

Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.

*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee.

When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.

Shipping costs are based on your total order value and will be calculated at checkout, with free shipping automatically applied to all orders over £60. For a full breakdown of shipping prices please see our help center here.

Additionally, to protect the health and quality of our live plants, orders containing plants are exclusively shipped Monday through Thursday. This careful scheduling prevents your plants from being stuck in a dark shipping depot over the weekend, ensuring they arrive at your door vibrant and healthy.