Lonicera

Lonicera or honeysuckle is a very diverse species, including wonderfully scented vines (periclymenum, japonica, tatarica, xylosteum…) or shrubs (fragrantissima, purpusii, syringantha…), fruit-bearing shrubs (caerulea/kamtchatica…) as well as evergreen hedging shrubs and groundcovers (nitida, pileata, crassifolia…).

Lonicera japonica

I love the scented Lonicera vines and was more than happy to discover that the massive hedge of Euonymus japonicus, always ugly in the summer with its powdery mildew spots, has been invaded by a lovely Lonicera japonica, pushing its wonderfully scented flower vines all over from June until September.
I’ve added another Lonicera japonica “Dart’s Acumen” in a different spot and, unsurprisingly, it shows itself to be much less vigorous than it’s “wild” cousin.

Lonicera fragrantissima/purpusii

Between the stonewalled vegetable beds is a very old and very robust Lonicera purpusii or fragrantissima. Its creamy white, honeysuckle-scented flowers on naked stems are an early feast for bees from February through April. For one reason or another we’ve chopped it back severely several times and each time it comes back even bigger and stronger.

Lonicera fragrantissima and purpusii are very similar and I’m not sure which on I have. The only difference I’ve been able to find online seems to lie in the distinct honeysuckle-scent and the definitely deciduous state of Lonicera purpusii – whereas fragrantissima may be semi-evergreen.

Anyway this shrub doesn’t much care about the quality of soil, is very hardy, and tolerates drought, even more so if it is in half shade. Ours is in full sun and seems to have no problem at all.