Lonicera pileata
PRIVET HONEYSUCKLE, PROSTRATE HONEYSUCKLE
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Pronounced: lon-i-SE-ra pi-lee-AH-ta
Quick Jumps
Growing Guide
Rainy Side Notes
GROWING GUIDE
Origin:
China.
Plant Group:
Evergreen shrubs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: 2-9, 14-24.
USDA zones: 5-9.
Heat zones: 9-5.
Mature size:
Height: 2-3 feet (60-90 cm).
Width: 8 feet (2.5 m).
Flowering period:
May.
Flowering attributes:
Fragrant, small, funnel shaped, creamy-white flowers followed by violet-blue translucent berries.
Leaf attributes:
Glossy, evergreen, dark green leaves.
Growth habit:
Spreading, low growing.
Light:
Full sun or partial shade.
Soil:
Any well-drained soil.
Propagation Methods:
Easy to propagate by cuttings taken in fall or early spring.
Pruning Methods:
Prune after flowering.
Rainy Side Notes
This shrub, with its evergreen boxwood-like foliage and slow spreading habit, makes a good bank-covering ground cover. It is much more interesting than the destructive ivy that is destroying local forest habitats. Where a branch of this Lonicera touches ground, it will root and slowly spread over time. Salt tolerant too, it is good for seashore plantings. Also it can be used as a bonsai subject.
Flowers are inconspicuous, but translucent violet-blue berries follow. The shrub is supposedly deer-proof, so hopefully your local herd will turn its nose up to the shrub.
Lonicera was named after German naturalist Adam Lonitzer. Pileata means capped, describing the fruit's dimple.
Photographed in author's garden.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton