Lonicera nitida 'ELEGANT'

Lonicera is a large and variable genus consisting of small, ground-covering plants as well as mid-sized shrubs, and even tall climbers. Most of them bear fragrant flowers, many of them are evergreen, and some produce edible fruit. The genus was named in honour of German botanist Adam Lonitzer (1528-1586), a physician and a professor of mathematics and medicine at the University of Marburg, but most significantly a keen and enthusiastic botanist. He married a daughter of his publisher who published all of his works until his death in 1555 when Adam took over and continued to focus on botany and writing and publishing more books until 1577.

Lonicera's common name is honeysuckle, possibly due to its fragrant, nectar-rich flowers which attract bees for production of honey. Box honeysuckle is a small evergreen shrub whose leaves resemble those of buxus (English box). It commonly grows about one meter or a little over tall, and is used as a groudcovering plant or a filler. It is also a good box substitute now that they are disappearing owing to the box tree moth.

Elegant (or also Elegans) is an older variety of box honeysuckle with small, highly glossy, evergreen leaves. They are borne opposite on long, horizontal, spreading branches. The overall appearance is quite elegant and not so messy compared to the species and some other filler-type plants. In early spring appears a profusion of small, creamy white to pale yellow flowers that may be followed by small berries (non toxic). It grows fast and can be grown as a low border or hedge, or clipped like box.

Box honeysuckle is very easy to grow as it easily adapts to most soil types apart from water-logged. It may only be slow to establish in heavy, compacted ground where it will be prone to winter sunscorch. Its branches are flexible and do not suffer from breaking under heavy snow unlike twigs of box plants. They easily root as soon as they touch the ground and should be removed unless you are growing it as a space filler where spreading is expected. It will grow in sun or shade, and can be pruned almost at any time, preferably in early spring for denser branching, or trimmed once or twice during the growing season, latest by early September. It is fully hardy to -24°C (USDA zone 6), it withstands temporary swings to -27°C with some leaf damage.

Last update 06-01-2010; 17-11-2019