Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii

The Ledebour Honeysuckle is also known as Involucre Honeysuckle because it has floral bracts forming a decorative collar, or California Honeysuckle due to its origins. It is a vigorous deciduous shrub that is little known to gardeners, very colourful from spring to autumn, robust, hardy down to -15 °C, and easy to grow. Plant it in a loose hedge or a shrub border.

Lonicera incolucrata var. ledebourii belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, like all shrubby honeysuckles. It is a shrub native to North America, particularly from western California and Oregon. The name of this variety, ledebourii, is dedicated to Friedrich von Ledebour, a German botanist (1785-1851). This shrub shows fairly rapid growth and a densely bushy habit from its base. Ultimately, it reaches between 2 and 3 m in all directions, depending on the growing conditions. It tolerates pruning well, which helps promote branching. Its branches bear fairly dark green foliage with a glossy finish, turning yellow before falling in autumn. Its leaves, opposite on the branches, are quite thick, oval-shaped, and measure 8 to 10 cm long. Flowering occurs from April to June, and may be earlier or later depending on the climate. In the axils of the leaves, numerous small tubular, 2 cm in flowers appear, yellow washed with orange, hanging from a rather long petiole. They are grouped in pairs and emerge from 2 slightly hairy, greenish to reddish bracts. After pollination by insects, the flowers transform into small ovoid, 7 mm long berries, which turn black and shiny when ripe, in late summer. At this time of year, the bracts have taken on an intense red colour, forming a beautiful contrast with the black berries. Some birds feed on this fruit.

Plant Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii in any loose, moist to dry soil, even limestone. This shrub will easily find a place in a loose hedge or a shrub border, in the garden of an enthusiast for unusual but easy-to-grow plants. Birds are fond of its berries and find refuge in its branches. You can associate it with buddleias in various colours, other shrubby honeysuckles, Weigelas, Mock Oranges, Deutzias, Forsythias, or Kolkwitzia, and many other shrubs for a countryside hedge.