Lonicera x purpusii Winter Beauty

Lonicera x purpusii Winter Beauty is a hardy winter-flowering shrub, easy to grow and full of charm that has its place in every garden.  Rather discreet during the summer season, it reveals itself when the garden is asleep, usually in February, when it is covered in small almost white flowers visited by the first pollinators attracted by their fragrance. Flowers are numerous and particularly visible on the branches, which are often sparsely leafy at this time of year. Apart from flowering, its ample, dense, and flexible habit has a beautiful presence in partially shaded areas of the garden. This vigorous winter honeysuckle is one of the essential bushes in an informal hedge.

Lonicera x purpusii Winter Beauty is a horticultural hybrid obtained in Great Britain at Hillier in 1966. It is the result of cross-breeding between the Lonicera fragrantissima, native to northeastern China, and its close relative Lonicera standishii, also Chinese. All these plants are shrubs, not climbers. They belong to the Caprifoliaceae family. 'Winter Beauty' is perfectly hardy and very tolerant of most soils, whether slightly acidic, neutral, or even slightly calcareous. It tolerates dry summers quite well if planted in shady positions in summer, for example, under a deciduous tree. However, it dislaikes overly compact and waterlogged soils in winter.

The habit of Lonicera purpusii Winter Beauty is bushy, rounded to spreading, with slightly arched branches. At maturity, this shrub, a little wider than tall, will measure approximately 2m (6 ft 7 in) in height and 2.50m (8 ft 2 in) in spread, sometimes more. Its growth can be easily controlled by pruning after flowering. The branches, reddish when young, become more grey and flaky over time. Its foliage is dense and more or less evergreen in winter depending on the climate: it often falls in January-February. The leaves, 2.5 to 7 cm (1 to 2.8 in) long, are arranged oppositely on the branches.  They are ovate and pointed, and light to medium green in colour. Flowers occur from December to March on the previous year's wood. These small flowers, grouped in pairs or fours in the axils of the leaves, measure no more than 1 cm (0.4 in) to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in length and diameter. They are cream-white, slightly touched with pale pink at the base, and have yellow stamens. Their fragrance resembles that of jasmine with a lemony note. Very nectar-rich, they are a source of food for bees at a time of year when blooms are rare. Their scent will be more noticeable in mild weather and in the late afternoon. They give way to small fruit which are somewhat dull red.  These ripen at the end of spring or the beginning of summer.

This winter honeysuckle, which grows quite large, is often used in an informal hedge or at the back of flower beds. However, its winter fragrance will be better enjoyed if it is planted near a passageway or pathway leading to an entrance of the house. It will be beneficial to associate it with shrubs that have staggered flowering but equivalent vigour: consider, for example, Philadelphus coronarius (garden mock orange), Lonicera tatarica, lilacs, dogwoods, winter viburnums.  The budded branches can be cut and put in a vase in the house, where they will open and perfume the room.