This shrub is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.

• Position: full sun
• Soil: any well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: September to October
• Hardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection)
  
  Slender conical panicles of lilac-blue flowers, which have a good perfume and are attractive to bees, provide late interest in early to mid-autumn. This spreading deciduous shrub also has attractive, aromatic palmate foliage. With an upright, bushy habit, this improved variety makes a superb addition to sunny borders.
  
  
• Garden care: As they dislike cold winds, they are best planted in a sheltered spot. Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year's growth to three or four buds. Provide winter protection in colder areas using cloches or plant protection fleece.