Winning the Award of Garden Merit in 1969 this outstanding small tree eventually gets to about 4 metres in height but is often sold as a shrub and placed in a position it soon outgrows.

Raised in Boskoop in the Netherlands, the purple oval leaves contrast beautifully with the soft ‘hairy’ display of random flower stalks that give the whole plant a fuzzy appearance June / July.

The summer foliage colour gives way to red in the autumn.

Originating in southern and central Europe It thrives on most free draining soils but won’t tolerate the most severe winters in the north of the UK.

A great plant for summer garden interest.

Mature height: 3-7m

Mature spread: 3-6m