Horticulture/Lonicera pileata

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.