What soil does Box honeysuckle grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Box honeysuckle hardy?

Hardy down to -18 °C (USDA zone 6, RHS H6). In the colder parts of the country (Greater Poland Voivodeship, Holy Cross Voivodeship, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Łódź Voivodeship, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Lublin Voivodeship, Lubusz Voivodeship, Masovian Voivodeship, Opole Voivodeship, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Silesian Voivodeship, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship) it may not survive winter without protection.

How far from the house should Box honeysuckle be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Box honeysuckle be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 60 cm between plants. For a hedge, allow 4 plants per metre.

How much water does Box honeysuckle need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Box honeysuckle

Lonicera nitida

Box honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida) is a hedge plant. Light: full sun, part shade, shade. Hardy down to -18 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.

Illustration of Box honeysuckle — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Box honeysuckle is a small-leaved, glossy evergreen shrub that grows fast and takes clipping at almost any time, so it is used for low hedges, edging and ground cover and is often suggested instead of box. It grows in sun or shade and in most soils except waterlogged ones. Expect to clip it two or three times a year to keep it tight, and expect browned or dropped leaves after a hard winter.

Watch out for

In Central Europe its winter hardiness is the weak point: below roughly -15 °C, especially in windy, sunny frost without snow cover, the leaves scorch or drop, and around -20 °C and below the stems can die back as well. It usually resprouts from the base after a hard cut in spring, but the hedge stays bare for a while, so frost pockets and exposed lowland gardens are risky. In scorching sun and dry soil the foliage can burn. Because it grows so fast, an unclipped plant soon goes bare at the base and flops open, and branches that touch the ground take root. Powdery mildew, leaf spot and aphids may occur. It escapes from gardens here and there in Western Europe but is not on the official invasive lists of the region.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 1.2 m × 1.5 m
Hardiness: down to -18 °C
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D May–June, white

All details

Group	Hedge
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	1.2 m × 1.5 m
Ultimate size	1–3 m × 1.2–3 m
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	May–June, white
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	60 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade Hedge plants Evergreen hedge plants Evergreen plants Plants for containers Fragrant plants

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