1 / 10

Lonicera fragrantissima

winter honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae China

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (strong)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–8

Overview

Lonicera fragrantissima is a broad, arching deciduous to semi-evergreen shrub in the honeysuckle family, native to China and reaching 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall and wide. The oval, blue-green leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) long and may hold late into winter in mild climates. From late winter into early spring, before or as the leaves emerge, it opens small, creamy-white paired flowers about 0.5 inch (12 mm) long that carry a strong, sweet lemon-like fragrance noticeable from several feet away. The flowers are followed by small red berries about 0.25 inch (6 mm) across in late spring. It grows in a wide range of soils in full sun to part shade and tolerates drought once established, but it becomes dense and twiggy and casts heavy shade beneath. Birds eat the berries and spread the seed, and the shrub has naturalized and is listed as invasive in parts of the southeastern and eastern United States, where it crowds out native plants in woodlands and field edges. The berries can cause stomach upset if eaten by pets. It is hardy to USDA zone 4 and flowers on the previous season's wood.

Native Range

Lonicera fragrantissima is native to eastern and central China. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental and has naturalized in parts of the southeastern and eastern United States, where it is listed as invasive in several states.

Suggested Uses

Lonicera fragrantissima is grown as a fragrant late-winter shrub in mixed borders and near paths and entries where its scent carries. Its invasive spread in the eastern United States limits its use, and removing the berries or choosing native alternatives reduces that risk. It is spaced 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) apart where used.

How to Identify

Look for a broad, arching shrub 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall with oval blue-green leaves and, in late winter, small creamy-white paired flowers about 0.5 inch (12 mm) long. The flowers carry a strong, sweet lemon-like scent and open before or with the leaves, followed by small red berries. The very early, fragrant bloom and paired flowers separate it from later-flowering shrubs and from native honeysuckles.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 10'

Width/Spread6' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Winter Spring

Creamy-white, strongly fragrant flowers open from late winter into early spring, about January to March depending on climate, before or as the leaves emerge. The bloom lasts about five weeks. Flowers form on the previous season's wood and are followed by red berries in late spring.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Lonicera fragrantissima grows in full sun to part shade in most well-drained soils with a pH from about 5.5 to 7.5. It tolerates drought, poor soil, and a range of conditions once established, which contributes to its weedy spread. It flowers on old wood, so any pruning is done right after flowering to avoid removing the next year's buds. Birds disperse the seed widely, and the shrub is listed as invasive in parts of the eastern United States, so removing spent berries limits its spread where that is a concern. No routine fertilizer is needed. It is hardy to USDA zone 4.

Pruning

Lonicera fragrantissima flowers on the previous season's wood, so pruning is done right after bloom to avoid cutting off the next year's flower buds. Old, twiggy stems can be thinned at the base to open the dense interior. Removing the berries before they ripen reduces seedling spread.