Like a buddleia but not.

[HamFrancisco]

I want to plant a tall shrub, ideally multi stem, with an open, airy canopy. A buddleia would be perfect, except I don’t want it seeding in walls etc. What else is similar? I think a lifted canopy evergreen like a photinia is too heavy and dense, it’s for the middle of the garden so it would be nice to see through it.

4m height and 2m width max.

Kolkwitzia grows in a similar way to buddleia, and has beautiful pink flowers. It's easy to prune, and not invasive.

Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. Sadly a fig wouldn't grow here, we are in an exposed spot with strong, cold winds which I think would be too much for the big leaves. Hamamelis and Cornus also require shelter, according to the RHS, which is a bugger as they look lovely (thanks, @MereDintofPandiculation ).

I like the look of that Himalayan honeysuckle, it looks like the type of plant you can chop bits off if it's too big. It says 'sheltered' on the RHS site but Gardners World seem a bit more relaxed about it.

I haven't ignored the suggestions of laurel and viburnum, by the way, I'm doing some research.

While I'm here, can anyone tell me what the plant is at the front of the bed in my photo, next to the ponytail grass, about knee high tall?

We have two dogwood - one with red wood and one with orange. They both have lovely foliage and flowers in the summer and a dogwood would look spectacular in the winter.

Two more I've thought of are Magnolia Stellata which is relatively small and absolutely beautiful with lovely scent, or Japanese Quince - I have a gorgeous pinky red one.

If it's the one i'm thinking of its an Oleander?

While I'm here, can anyone tell me what the plant is at the front of the bed in my photo, next to the ponytail grass, about knee high tall?
Here's an article about the garden, with some plant details.

Sadly a fig wouldn't grow here, we are in an exposed spot with strong, cold winds which I think would be too much for the big leaves. Hamamelis and Cornus also require shelter, according to the RHS, which is a bugger as they look lovely I have all of them in my Yorkshire garden 400ft above sealevel. But we’re a frost pocket rather than particularly windy.

If you like the look of Cornus kousa, you could try some of the Viburnums, eg opulus, plicatum

You’re thinking of Viburnum bodnantense I think? Some of the other Viburnums flower later in the year

While I'm here, can anyone tell me what the plant is at the front of the bed in my photo, next to the ponytail grass, about knee high tall? I think it’s the Dahlia whose red flowers you can see a bit higher up.

It’s not an oleander, which has long narrow leaves not serrated at the edges. And it’s not the red potentilla that you can see in the article linked above.

I think the berries of the Himalayan honeysuckle are edible, supposed to taste like caramel.

If it’s very windy, avoiding anything brittle will help. How about Rowan (sorbus) pink pagoda? Or Sorbus Coxi? Has glaucous delicate foliage, white flowers, then pink berries that stay on tree for ages as birds not so keen on the colour.

Just remember Himalayan honeysuckle isn’t a honeysuckle. Most (admittedly not all) honeysuckles have poisonous berries.

For the avoidance of doubt (or to confuse things further)

Yes, I know I spelled Himalayan wrong

Love the annotation 😍😂

I am now intrigued to try eating my Himalayan honeysuckle berries later this year 😋

I have dogwood red sticks at the moment but tonnes of leaves in summer. I need something quick growing but non invasive to fill space where the fence is lower. Buddleia sounds ideal. Is lilac invasive? The roots ?

Just spotted there have been some more replies, thanks! Duly noted about the honeysuckle berries.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget lilac does sucker, and if you don't keep on top of removing the suckers it will spread, but personally I don't think it's arduous and I think it's easily enough controlled that it doesn't become invasive - but it does have potential to be so if left alone.

Himalayan honeysuckle seeds itself everywhere in my garden. It’s an attractive shrub though.

That's funny - mine arrived as a randomly dropped seed (presumably delivered via a bird from another plant in the locality), but I've never found a seedling from having it growing and fruiting hugely in my own garden. Odd.

Of course now I've said that, fate will ensure I am plagued by self seeding this year 😂