Box Honeysuckle
Lonicera nitida
Box honeysuckle is a small-leaved evergreen shrub used as a dense, fine-textured hedge or topiary, much like boxwood. It is fast-growing, shade-tolerant and easy to clip into shape.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate; regular while establishing
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is an evergreen shrub grown not for showy flowers but for its tiny, glossy leaves and dense, twiggy habit, which make it an excellent boxwood substitute for low hedges and topiary.
Native to China, it is fast-growing and tolerant, responding very well to clipping. The golden-leaved form 'Baggesen's Gold' is especially popular for adding bright color to hedges and containers.
Small, inconspicuous creamy flowers appear in spring, occasionally followed by translucent purple berries. The plant's chief value is as a reliable, easy-care structural and edging shrub.
How to identify it
- Leaves: very small (about 0.5 in), rounded, glossy dark green (or gold in 'Baggesen's Gold'), densely packed and evergreen
- Flowers: tiny, fragrant creamy-white flowers in spring, easily overlooked
- Fruit: small, translucent amethyst-purple berries, produced sparsely
- Habit: dense, twiggy, rounded shrub 3 to 6 ft tall with arching stems
- Stems: thin, wiry, finely branched
Care & growing
Adaptable to full sun or part shade; gold forms keep best color in sun.
- Water: moderate; water while establishing, then fairly drought tolerant
- Soil: any reasonable, well-drained soil
- Temperature: USDA zones 6 to 9
- Feeding: light feed in spring for vigorous hedges
- Pruning: clip frequently to maintain crisp hedge or topiary form; tolerates hard pruning
- Note: stems can flop or root where they touch the ground; shear to keep tidy
- Propagation: very easy from semi-hardwood or hardwood cuttings
Habitat & origin
Native to southwestern China, where it grows in scrub and woodland.
It is widely cultivated in temperate gardens, especially in Europe, as a fast, inexpensive alternative to boxwood for hedging and topiary, and is valued where box blight has affected traditional box plantings.
Frequently asked questions
Is box honeysuckle a good boxwood substitute?
Yes. Its tiny, dense, glossy leaves clip into crisp hedges and topiary much like boxwood, and it is faster growing and currently free of box blight.
Does it have showy flowers like climbing honeysuckle?
No. Unlike vining honeysuckles, this shrubby species has tiny, inconspicuous flowers and is grown for its foliage and form.
How often does it need trimming?
Frequently if you want a tidy formal shape, since it grows fast. A few light shearings through the season keep it crisp.
Box Honeysuckle guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Box Honeysuckle.
