Lonicera nitida - Box Honeysuckle

The lonicera nitida or Boxleaf Honeysuckle is an evergreen bush with a dense and bushy habit, native to China, easy to grow and particularly interesting for creating hedges or topiaries. It offers an interesting alternative to boxwood as its growth is fast.

Lonicera nitida belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family and is native to the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. It is very easy to care for and hardy. It reaches a height of 2m (6-7ft), occupies 2m (6-7ft) in width and offers the benefit of fast growth (mature size is reached in 4 to 5 years).

The Boxleaf Honeysuckle has a thick and dense habit, which can be maintained or accentuated with regular pruning. Its evergreen leaves, small and tough, are dark green and glossy, measuring 12mm (0.5in) in length. If not pruned, it develops thin and flexible branches that sometimes take on a twisted appearance. The small white-cream flowers, without appeal, appear in spring. The small purple fruits, toxic but appreciated by birds, are rarely observed in cultivation.

Plant Lonicera nitida in well-drained, deep and moist, even chalky, soil in partial shade or light sun. As primarily a foliage plant, the Boxleaf Honeysuckle can tolerate severe pruning, which should be done just after winter or after flowering. Allow 50cm (19.7in) of distance between plants for hedge planting. To keep it regular and compact, trim your hedge two or three times a year. Lonicera nitida is resistant to atmospheric pollution and can also tolerate moderate drought.

The Boxleaf Honeysuckle is primarily a foliage plant and will be very useful for low or medium height hedges. It can be trained into topiaries, planted in containers on a terrace, or left to grow naturally. You can also train it against a trellis.