Winter honeysuckle Lonicera × purpusii

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The plant known as Winter Honeysuckle is a shrubby deciduous plant distinguished by its fragrant white flowers, which may sometimes show a flush of pink. The flowers are small but abundant, blooming in pairs along the branches which can add a subtle but pleasing aesthetic to gardens during the colder months. The blooms give way to small red or black berries that can attract birds and other wildlife. The leaves of the Winter Honeysuckle are simple, oval-shaped with a pointed tip, and have a lush, dark green color that can create a lovely backdrop for the contrasting flowers. The plant's branches are often arching, creating a sprawling and bushy appearance, and can form an informal hedge if planted in a row. The bark is typically pale and can exfoliate in older specimens, adding textural interest to the plant's appearance throughout the year.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Caprifoliaceae
- Synonyms
  Winter Honeysuckle, Winter Beauty, Purpus's Honeysuckle, Sweet Breath of Spring
- Common names
  Lonicera × purpusii
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  6-10 feet (1.8-3 meters)
- Spread
  5-9 feet (1.5-2.7 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  4-8
- Native area
  Cultivar

Benefits

General Benefits
- Winter Interest: Lonicera × purpusii, commonly known as winter honeysuckle, flowers during late winter, providing color and interest when most other plants are dormant.
- Fragrant Flowers: The plant is well-known for its strongly scented cream-colored flowers that can perfume a garden area.
- Attracts Wildlife: Winter honeysuckle attracts birds, bees, and butterflies, providing them with nectar during times when few other food sources are available.
- Easy to Grow: This plant is considered low-maintenance and is able to thrive in a range of soil types and conditions.
- Fast Growing: It can grow quickly, providing a rapid effect in landscaping projects or when used as a hedge or privacy screen.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Lonicera × purpusii is quite drought-tolerant and can survive in dry conditions with minimal watering.
- Versatile Landscaping: It can be used in a variety of landscaping designs, including borders, hedges, or as a standalone specimen.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Winter Beauty can be used in floral arrangements due to their fragrant flowers which can bring a hint of spring indoors during the colder months.
- The blooms of Lonicera × purpusii can provide a valuable early nectar source for bees when few other flowers are available.
- Branches with buds can be cut and forced to bloom indoors, offering a natural way to brighten up a home during winter.
- The dense foliage provides nesting sites and cover for small birds within garden landscapes.
- Dried branches of Winter Beauty can be used in crafts for wreath-making or as part of a rustic decor.
- The plant can be used in privacy screening due to its dense growth habit, creating a natural and attractive barrier in gardens.
- Lonicera × purpusii can be grown in containers as part of a patio or balcony garden, where space is limited.
- Culinary enthusiasts sometimes use the flowers to infuse syrups or sugars for a unique flavoring, although this is uncommon.
- Winter Beauty can be incorporated into educational gardens to demonstrate seasonal changes and the importance of early-season pollinators.
- The wood of mature stems can be used for small carving projects or to create garden stakes and labels due to its sturdy nature.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Winter Honeysuckle is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Winter Honeysuckle is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love and Devotion: Lonicera × purpusii, commonly known as Winter Honeysuckle, often symbolizes enduring love and devotion due to the sweet fragrance of its flowers, which are reminiscent of the affectionate and alluring aspects of a loving relationship.
- Happiness: The Winter Honeysuckle's bright and cheerful flowers during the cold season are seen as a symbol of happiness and the ability to bring joy even in less favorable circumstances.
- Generosity: With its tendency to spread, Winter Honeysuckle can also stand for generosity, sharing its abundant blooms and fragrance with those around it.
- Bonds of Friendship: The interconnected nature of its vines and the way it supports itself on structures can represent the strong bonds of friendship.
- Welcoming: Often planted near homes, the Winter Honeysuckle's inviting scent symbolizes a welcoming atmosphere, suggesting the home is a place of open-hearted hospitality.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Winter to Early Spring

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Winter honeysuckle should be watered deeply once a week, allowing the soil to dry out somewhat between waterings. Typically, one to two gallons per week is sufficient, depending on the local climate and season. During the growing season in spring and summer, increase watering slightly to support growth. Decrease watering in the fall and further reduce it in winter when the plant is dormant. It's important to avoid waterlogging as this can lead to root rot, so ensure good drainage around the plant.
Light
Winter honeysuckle thrives best in full sunlight to partial shade. It should be planted in a location where it receives at least six hours of sunlight each day, although it can tolerate some light shade, especially during the hottest part of the day. Avoid deep shade as this can lead to reduced flowering and a less vigorous plant.
Temperature
Winter honeysuckle is hardy and does well in a wide range of temperatures, but it prefers an average temperature between 60°F and 80°F for optimal growth. It can typically survive winter temperatures as low as -20°F but ensure it is well-mulched to protect the root system. It can also handle summer highs up to 90°F but needs protection from extreme heat and drought.
Pruning
Prune winter honeysuckle to shape the plant and remove any dead or diseased wood, ideally in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Pruning can be done annually to maintain a desirable size and promote vigorous blooms for the following season. Also, after flowering, you may prune lightly to encourage bushier growth.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Winter Honeysuckle thrives in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. A mix of two-thirds loam with one-third sand and organic compost would provide the optimal conditions for growth.
Repotting
Winter Honeysuckle is typically planted in the ground and does not require repotting. If potted, it should be repotted when root-bound, usually every few years.
Humidity & Misting
Winter Honeysuckle is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not have specific humidity requirements for optimal growth.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright indirect light, keep soil moist, and ensure good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade, and shelter from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  4-9 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of Lonicera × purpusii, commonly known as Winter Honeysuckle, begins with seed germination, usually in spring, where it requires moist, well-drained soil and some warmth to sprout. Once germinated, the seedling phase sees rapid root and shoot growth, eventually developing into a shrub with dense foliage. Flowering typically occurs in winter to early spring, featuring creamy-white, fragrant flowers attracting pollinators, even in cooler temperatures. After pollination, flowers develop into small red or black berries dispersed by birds, which can lead to new plants if conditions are favorable. The plant reaches maturity in a few years, capable of substantial bushy growth, and can live for several decades with proper care, including regular pruning to maintain shape and promote health. Winter Honeysuckle may also spread vegetatively through layering or cuttings, allowing for propagation without seed production.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Winter to Early Spring
- The Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera × purpusii) is most commonly propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. This method involves taking cuttings from the current season's growth in late summer, when the new stems have begun to harden slightly. Cut a stem of about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in length, making sure it contains several leaf nodes. Strip the lower leaves off and dip the cutting in rooting hormone to encourage root development. Then plant the cutting in a well-draining soil mix, covering the bottom nodes where the leaves were removed. Keep the soil moist and the cutting in a warm, bright environment, but out of direct sunlight to avoid scorching the developing roots. With proper care, the cutting should root within a few weeks, allowing it to be transplanted to a more permanent location.