Seasonal Wild Flowers

Winter Honeysuckle

Lonicera fragrantissima x standishii = L. x purpusii

Caprifoliaceae

Wintersweet, January Jasmine, Sweet Breath of

Spring

November to March

It is grown in gardens throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Winter Honeysuckle

It is grown in gardens, parks and public amenity areas

and may occur as a throw out close to habitation.

It is classified as an invasive weed in the US

It has attractive, white, sweetly scented flowers.

It grows in my garden and killed an adjacent pear

tree, caused die back in a close Buddleja and

inhibited a neighbouring arch-forming Wilson's

Honeysuckle. I suspected allelopathetic effects

and, indeed, the USDA states that Winter Honeysuckle

produces allelopathetic chemicals which inhibit

other plants.

Shrub in winter

Individual flower

A different view

Leaves in April

Berries in April