- It grows as a small shrub with a woody stem. It flowers and bears fruit.
- It has a bushy growth habit and does not produce adventitious roots. It grows slowly and rarely reaches more than 3-5 m in height (0.2 m per year).
- The leaves are ovate, leathery, dark green, and evergreen.
- The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish, and bloom from September to October. It blooms very early after planting. It is planted as a honey plant.
- The fruits are small, dark blue-black spheres gathered in clusters, attractive, but poisonous if eaten.
- It grows best in fertile, humus-rich, moist soil. It thrives in shaded or partially shaded locations. As an evergreen, it can dry out in frosty, snowless winters, so it’s best to plant it in sheltered locations and water it thoroughly in autumn, before the frosts arrive.
- Recommended for small gardens.
- It’s quite frost-resistant, but it’s best to protect it by covering it for the winter and planting it in sheltered locations.
