Lonicera maackii

Lonicera maackii is a large and magnificent shrub honeysuckle also known as Maack's Honeysuckle, tree honeysuckle or Love Honeysuckle. It is a beautiful deciduous shrub with a wide habit and an almost flat silhouette, whose spring flowering is white, fragrant and nectar-rich, followed by decorative red fruits. This very hardy and undemanding, yet little known honeysuckle is an excellent plant for informal and country hedges.

Lonicera maackii, formerly known as Xylosteon maackii, is native to China, Korea, Japan and Siberia and naturalised in North America. This shrub belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, like all shrub honeysuckles. It grows relatively fast and eventually forms a wider than tall shrub, supported by several small trunks, topped by a parasol-shaped crown. It reaches about 3m in height and 4m in width, depending on the growing conditions. Its bark is initially smooth and greyish-brown brown, becoming corky and furrowed with age. Its foliage is deciduous, developing in spring and falling in autumn. The leaves are elliptical to lanceolate in shape, measuring up to 8cm long and 4cm wide. They are dark green with a lighter underside, turning yellow in autumn before falling. This tree honeysuckle blooms in May-June. The 2cm long flowers, with two lips, open in pairs in the axils of the leaves. They are highly scented and white, turning yellow before wilting. After pollination by insects, small, 5 to 6mm diameter berries develop and turn dark red when ripe, around August. They are toxic to humans, but sought after by some birds.

Plant Maack's Honeysuckle in any soil that is not too dry, even limestone and/or clayey soil. This shrub will thrive in partial shade or full sun, but flowering will be more abundant in full sun. It will find a place in many gardens, in an informal hedge, shrub bed, or even as a specimen plant. Birds are fond of its berries and find refuge in its branches. You can associate it with butterfly bushes in various colours, Weigelas, Japanese Quinces, Forsythias, Kolkwitzia, Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), Winter Jasmine...