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Lonicera nitida - E.H.Wilson.

Common Name Boxleaf Honeysuckle
Family Caprifoliaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats In scrub and along streams, 1300 - 2100 metres in Yunnan and W. Sichuan[184].
Range E. Asia - China.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Lonicera nitida Boxleaf Honeysuckle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SB_Johnny
Lonicera nitida Boxleaf Honeysuckle
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SB_Johnny

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Mid spring. Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Lonicera nitida is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Hedge;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

Can be grown as a medium sized hedge. It is very fast growing but needs lots of trimming[29, 200]. It is quite frequently used as a hedge plant in Britain[200]. The forms 'Graziosa' and 'Maigrün (Maygreen) can be used as ground cover plants[182, 197].

Special Uses

Ground cover  Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Hedge. A very easily grown and tolerant plant, it succeeds in any fertile soil, preferring a good moist soil in a sunny position[11, 200]. Succeeds in deep shade[202]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant, so long as there is plenty of humus in the soil[190]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[184, 202]. Another report says that it is not very hardy in northern Britain and that it rarely fruits in Britain[1]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of deer[182]. A number of forms have been developed for their ornamental value[182]. Plants are very tolerant of pruning and can regrow from very old wood[202]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[113] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[78]. Layering in autumn[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Diervilla loniceraBush Honeysuckle, Northern bush honeysuckleShrub1.0 3-8 MLMHSNM022
Lonicera affinis Climber7.0 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Lonicera angustifoliaNarrow-leafed honeysuckleShrub2.7 4-8 MLMHNM402
Lonicera caeruleaSweetberry honeysuckle, Bluefly honeysuckle, Haskap berryShrub2.0 3-9 FLMHNM400
Lonicera canadensisFly Honeysuckle, American fly honeysuckleShrub1.5 3-7  LMHNM11 
Lonicera caprifoliumItalian Honeysuckle, Italian woodbineClimber6.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM122
Lonicera chrysanthaHoneysuckleShrub4.0 3-7  LMHNM10 
Lonicera ciliosaOrange HoneysuckleClimber10.0 4-8 MLMHSNM222
Lonicera gracilipes Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera gracilipes glabra Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera henryi Climber6.0 4-8  LMHSNM113
Lonicera involucrataTwinberry, Twinberry honeysuckleShrub1.2 4-8 MLMHNM222
Lonicera japonicaJapanese HoneysuckleClimber5.0 4-10 FLMHSNDM233
Lonicera morrowiiMorrow's honeysuckleShrub2.0 3-7  LMHNM110
Lonicera periclymenumHoneysuckle, European honeysuckleClimber4.5 4-8 MLMHFSNM123
Lonicera pileataPrivet honeysuckleShrub0.2 4-8  LMHFSNDM003
Lonicera quinquelocularis Shrub5.0 4-8  LMHNDM002
Lonicera sempervirensTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleShrub5.0 4-9 FLMHNDM01 
Lonicera utahensisUtah HoneysuckleShrub1.5 4-8  LMHNM11 
Lonicera venulosa Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHNM20 
Lonicera villosaMountain fly honeysuckle, Fuller's honeysuckleShrub1.5 3-9 SLMHNM300
Lonicera villosa solonis Shrub0.8 -  LMHNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

E.H.Wilson.

Botanical References

11200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

   Sun Mar 12 2006

How do you get rid of it when it has run rampant and covered 1/4 acre?

Charles Camp   Tue Sep 4 2007

My lonicera evergreen hedge has no flowers and has grown hidden under leylandii where it climbed to 12' or more, and also on a grass bank where I'm trying to fill in gaps to improve the hedge. As it has no flowers I cannot propagate from seed and will have to rely on cuttings or layering. Can you identify the type of lonicera I have? As the cottage I live in is over 300 years old it could have been around for some time - it seems to have established itself on all sides, as a hedge, growing in the trees or individual bushes.

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