Privet honeysuckle
Lonicera pileata
Family: Caprifoliaceae
What it is like
Lonicera pileata is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 2 m (6ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in leaf all year, in flower in May. 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. 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 dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
Scrub and by streams, 300 - 1800 metres.
E. Asia - China in W. Hubei and W. Sichuan.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 3
A very good ground cover plant, rooting as it spreads and succeeding under trees and shrubs as well as in full sun. Plants should be spaced about 1 metre apart each way.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
How it is grown
Succeeds in almost any soil in sun or shade but prefers a good moist soil in a sunny position. Established plants are drought tolerant, they also succeed in dry shade. Plants do not fruit so well when they are grown in the shade. Tolerates salt-laden winds. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c. The plant is not usually eaten by deer. Fruits are occasionally produced in Britain. A number of named forms have been developed for their ornamental value. 'Moss Green' is especially recommended for ground cover.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification 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. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage. Layering in autumn.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover;
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: 4-8
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Dry, moist