Box Leaf Honeysuckle Lonicera pileata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Lonicera ligustrina var. pileata
- Phonetic Spelling
- luh-NISS-ur-uh pill-ee-AY-tu
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
This honeysuckle from China is a low growing evergreen to a semi-evergreen shrub that is useful for growing on banks or slopes. Lonicera pileata has low horizontal branches that will root-in and slowly spread over time, making it a good choice as a ground cover. This box-leaf honeysuckle is salt tolerant and does well in seashore plantings. It is drought tolerant once established if grown in shade but needs regular watering if grown in sunny areas. The small fragrant flowers and berries that follow are tucked away beneath the foliage. It can easily be shaped by pruning, but keep in mind that it will flower on old growth.The berries are mildly toxic
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Moss Green'
- 'Royal Carpet'
- 'Moss Green'
- 'Moss Green', 'Royal Carpet'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Moss Green'
- 'Royal Carpet'
- 'Moss Green'
- 'Moss Green', 'Royal Carpet'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lonicera
- Species:
- pileata
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- translucent purplish to black cap-shaped fruit 6 mm
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny .5" yellowish-white flowers in pairs in spring to early summer
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 0.5"- 1" lustrous dark green leaves that are pale green underneath. tapered at the base.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Erosion
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
