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Gerald L. Klingaman
Caprifoliaceae
Lonicera fragrantissima
Winter Honeysuckle
Winter honeysuckle is a cold hardy, fountain shaped, semi-evergreen shrub grown for its intensely fragrant flowers that bloom in the depths of winter. The species is native to China where it is found in open woodlands--which suggest one good location in the garden. Slender, arching branches produce a graceful form that deserves to stand on its own. The leaves are large, oval, and medium green to blue-green, and the youngest twigs are purple.
The flowers are small and open, not trumpet-shaped like those of other honey suckles. They are snow white, and bloom in mid-winter, emitting an almost fruity scent. The fruits are red berries that ripen in summer and are not particularly visible on these leafy plants.
This shrub is renowned for growing under a wide variety of conditions from heat to cold, moist to dry, and in any soil that is well drained. This is a great problem solver for background foliage and privacy screens with a bonus of fragrance. A large shrub, it may need pruning to control its size.
8 - 3
4 - 8
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Shrub
Full Sun, Partial Sun
5'-6' / 1.5m - 1.8m
8'-10' / 2.4m - 3.0m
Late Winter
China
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Fast
Average Water
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Spring, Winter
Showy
White
Red
Green
Green, Blue Green
Gray
Yes
No
Single
Medium
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Smooth
Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break
Birds
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