Box Honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida, sometimes called Wilson’s Honeysuckle) is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that make an excellent hedge. It grows quickly and with repeated shearing makes an incredibly dense screen with beautiful texture. Lonicera nitida can be kept around 3 feet tall up to 8 feet tall. It is a great boxwood substitute.
Box Honeysuckle Quick Guide
- Evergreen with small, boxwood-like leaves
- Fast grower
- Easy to form into a dense hedge
- Hardy in USDA Zones 6-9
- Grows in full sun or deep shade
- Deer resistant
Lonicera Nitida Details
While less common in the United States, Box Honeysuckle is an extremely popular hedge in the UK. It is native to China. Its fine green foliage is similar to boxwood, and with consistent shearing it grows into a dense, thick hedge. It grows rapidly but responds well to pruning, so it can be maintained as either a small or a large hedge.
Lonicera nitida grows well in full sun to light shade, and is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9. It is strongly deer resistant and has no serious disease issues. It tolerates drought, salt, and pollution well, and grows well in a wide range of soil types.
Box Honeysuckle is a great choice for replacing a boxwood hedge that has been infected with Boxwood Blight.
| USDA Hardiness Zones: | 6 - 9 |
| Your Hardiness Zone: | ZIP: |
| West Coast - Sunset Heat Zones: | 8 - 24 |
| Sun/Shade: | Full Sun to light shade |
| Deer Resistance: | Yes |
| Watering Requirements: | Moderate |
| Growth Rate: | Fast, ~12” per year |
| Mature Size: | 4’H x 4’W Unpruned |
| Drought Tolerance: | High once established |
| Pest/Disease Issues: | |
| No significant pest or disease issues | |
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