Lonicera nitida

L. nitida is a broadleaf evergreen shrub {{convert|4-5 |ft|m|abbr=on}} tall{{cite web|url=http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/loni.htm |title=Lonicera nitida |access-date=2010-02-10 |work=Oregon State University }} and {{convert|4-6 |ft|m|abbr=on}} wide if unclipped, with dark green, small leaves (6–16 millimeters long). The creamy white, fragrant flowers, appearing at the end of spring,{{cite web|url=http://www.learn2grow.com/plants/lonicera-nitida-lemon-beauty/ |title=Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty' |access-date=2010-02-10 |last=Burghardt |first=James |work=Learn 2 Grow }} are 6 millimeters long, and grow in pairs. The fruit (rarely formed on clipped specimens) is an inedible bluish-purple berry{{cite book | last = American Horticultural Society | title = Great Plant Guide | publisher = DK Publishing, Inc. | year = 2004 | pages = 355 | isbn = 0-7566-0315-3 }} about 6 millimeters in diameter. The stems are layered one on top of the other giving the appearance of a haystack.{{cite web |url=http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/loniceranitidalemonbeauty.html |title=Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty' (Boxleaf Honeysuckle) |access-date=2010-02-10 |work=Pender Nursery |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102021208/http://www.pendernursery.com/Catalog/Detail/loniceranitidalemonbeauty.html |archive-date=2011-01-02 |url-status=dead }} The growth rate is moderate{{cite web|url=http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/lonicera_nitida.html |title=Lonicera nitida |access-date=2010-02-10 |work=North Carolina State University }} or fast growing.{{cite web |url=http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/plantmonth/fmplantmonthindex.htm |title=Lonicera nitida |access-date=2010-02-10 |work=Bellevue Botanical Garden |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615005131/http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/plantmonth/fmplantmonthindex.htm |archive-date=2010-06-15 |url-status=dead }} While resistant to deer and rabbits,{{cite web |url=http://www.perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=7.778.360 |title=Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty' |access-date=2010-02-10 |work=Heritage Perennials |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105122023/http://perennials.com/seeplant.html?item=7.778.360 |archive-date=2010-01-05 |url-status=dead }} it is attractive to birds. When planted, the species is easy to clip and needs frequent clipping because it flops if it grows to a height over 5 feet.{{cite book | last = Clive | first = Lane | title = Plants for Small Spaces | publisher = David & Charles | year = 2005 | pages = 38 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=syWvwR_Gp8gC&dq=Lonicera+nitida&pg=PT40 | isbn = 978-1-55870-749-8 }} The species is commonly confused with Cotoneaster species. The difference between the two is that Cotoneaster has alternate leaves while this species has opposite leaves.{{cite book | last = Dirr | first = Michael | title = Dirr's trees and shrubs for warm climates: an illustrated encyclopedia | publisher = Timber Press | year = 2002 | pages = 205 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VcIPyaWwaVcC&dq=Lonicera+nitida&pg=PA206 | isbn = 978-0-88192-525-8 }}

The Latin specific epithet nitida means "shining', in reference to its glossy leaves.{{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Lorraine |title=RHS Latin for Gardeners |year=2012 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |location=United Kingdom |isbn=978-1845337315 }}

Cultivars include 'Maigrün', 'Baggesen's Gold' and 'Briloni' (a.k.a. 'Edmee Gold'){{Cite web |url=http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/horticulture/annual_plant_distribution/annual_plant_distribution_by_year.php?year=2011 |title=JC Raulston Arboretum |access-date=2012-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624044305/http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/horticulture/annual_plant_distribution/annual_plant_distribution_by_year.php?year=2011 |archive-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead }}

When planted, the species should be put in the full sun to light shade in fertile, well-drained soil. The species is more shade resistant than most honeysuckles. The species can tolerate drought and pollution.

Lonicera nitida takes clipping well and makes a small hedge.{{cite book | last = Lucas Phillips | first = C. E. | title = The Small Garden | publisher = William Heinemann Ltd | year = 1952 | page = facing 237 }} The cultivar 'Baggesen's Gold' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/78340/i-Lonicera-nitida-i-Baggesen-s-Gold/Details

| title = RHS Plantfinder - Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold' | access-date= 28 March 2018}}{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 61 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 25 March 2018}}

At Osborne House, a holiday home built in 1845 on the Isle of Wight for Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, there are L. nitida shrubs clipped in the form of stags rising from beds of Felicia amelloides, Festuca glauca, and Pelargonium inquinans.{{cite web|url=http://www.mywire.com/a/Oxford-Companion-Garden/Osborne-House/9580508/ |title=Osborne House |access-date=2010-02-11 |last=Taylor |first=Patrick |date=2008-01-01 |work=The Oxford Companion to Gardening }}

This plant is often used for bonsai. Because it is an energetic grower, it is possible to collect old and quite sizable L. nitida from the landscape or growing wild, cut most of the roots and branches off to start from scratch to build a new tree-like form.

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{{Commons category-inline|Lonicera pileata var. yunnanensis}}

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Category:Shrubs

nitida

Category:Flora of China