Horticulture/Lonicera pileata

Privet honeysuckle Lonicera pileata flowers 001.JPG Lonicera pileata Caprifoliaceae Low shrub Full sun to light shade Drought tolerant (5)-6-8-(9) Layering Rare Rare Aggressive spreader Insects and hummingbirds The Privet Honeysuckle is a low-growing evergreen shrub or groundcover, useful for planting on banks or other areas due to its low maintenance needs. Description This is a low, spreading shrub with an arching habit and "fishbone-like" leaves and secondary branches. The leaves are small, simple, shiny dark green. The small white flowers are borne in the axils in pairs, and while they are not showy they do attract hummingbirds. Growing Conditions Does best in well-drained soils. May require some shelter in the colder part of the range. Cultivars ‘Moss Green’: Compact, low-growing. ‘Royal Carpet’: Straight branches and purple fruit. Uses The arching habit makes it a good candidate for growing over walls or on steep banks. Layers readily and spreads fairly quickly. The branches are also useful for floral arrangements. Maintenance Very easy. Can outgrow its space, but easily reined in. Propagation ../Layering/ is the most common method. Pests and Diseases Problems are rare in the garden. Occasionally browsed by deer, but grows back readily. See ../Lonicera/ for a full discussion of pests and diseases affecting the genus. References Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants 1997 DK Publishing 632 Species y y y y y y y y y y y y y 75%