Lonicera Pileata Box Leaf Honeysuckle

Lonicera Pileata is a small evergreen shrub with glossy leaves that suits low hedging or ground cover. It’s a good alternative to box (buxus).

Lonicera Pileata is more commonly known as box leaf honeysuckle. It’s native to the Yunnan province of China often growing at altitude. It was introduced to Europe in the early 1900s and has thrived as a low hedging shrub.

Box Leaf Honeysuckle is a low spreading shrub with tiny glossy evergreen leaves that turn bronze in winter. It flowers in late spring with a profusion of small tubular cream flowers that are attractive to pollinators. Flowers mature into purple berries during winter that attract birds.

This is a good alternative to box and a reliable grower in most UK gardens.

Height And Spread of Lonicera Pileata
Box Leaf Honeysuckle will grow to a maximum height of 80 cm – 1.2 metres and spread over a metre.

How Hardy Is Lonicera Pileata
Box Leaf Honeysuckle is very hardy and will grow in sub-zero temperatures if the roots are well drained. It rarely gets pests and will tolerate drought once established thanks to its mountainous origins.

How To Use Lonicera Pileata
Box Leaf Honeysuckle is a good alternative to box hedges or topiary. It suits low growing hedges and creates a screen for fruit and vegetable gardens or seating areas.

Lonicera is appreciated in a wildlife garden as its bushy, tightly woven branches provide nesting cover for birds and overwintering habitats for insects or small mammals.

How To Care For Lonicera Pileata
Lonicera Pileata is an easy-to-grow trouble-free evergreen. It will thrive in sun and partial shade and grows in shady sites a little slower. It’s not fussy about soil pH growing in acid and alkaline soils.

You can leave this shrub to grow bushy or clip it twice a year to maintain the size and shape. Clip after the flowers have fallen and again during the summer for maintenance. In time, the lower branches will root and the shrub will spread.

Water well until established and apply a thick layer of mulch once a year to boost its glossy foliage and promote healthy growth.