This is one of the shrubs I would not want to be without in the garden! It is a half-hardy evergreen shrub, which in my garden is planted against a south-facing wall, so it has some protection. It grows to around 2 - 6 metres in height, but in colder areas usually gets cut to the ground each winter. It sprouts again from the base in spring. I usually leave the old growth on to give added protection. It flowers on last year's wood, so if it is cut to the ground by frost, it will not flower. It has only flowered once in my garden, after an exceptionally mild winter when the growth was not damaged by frost. It has fascinating long racemes of a chocolatey-red colour. Leaves can grow to around 45cm in length, but there is usually a choice of different sized leaves on one plant. The foliage is long-lasting in arrangements, and gives a lovely contrast of form, colour and texture.