Lonicera ‘Twiggy’ makes a compact 2′ tall x 2′ wide shrub with twiggy growth, lined with tiny yellow leaves that hold their bright yellow color into the winter. Twiggy is a new selection of the well-known Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ from the UK garden of Ashwood’s John Massey. Average size is 2-3’ high and wide; arching branches with tiny yellow leaves, evergreen – will take shearing. Cute little shrub for sun to part shade (needs light for brightest color).

This species, Lonicera nitida, is native to south west China. It grows in scrub form along streams at 1200 to 3000m. This plant is often used as a bonsai. The common name Wilson’s Honeysuckle was named after the celebrated plant hunter Ernest Henry Wilson, the first European to find it. L. nitida has been introduced into Western cultivation twice. The first clone, which arrived in 1908 never flowers, but the second available since 1939 flowers freely.

Latin Name

Lonicera nitida ‘Twiggy’

Common Name

Golden Boxleaf Honeysuckle

Pronunciation

luh-NIS-er-a NI-ti-duh

Derivation

The etymological root of the binomial name Lonicera is named after a German naturalist, Adam Lonitzer, of the 16th century. Nitida is derived from the Latin nitidus ‘shining’ or ‘bright’, referring to the leaves.

Classification

Genus: Lonicera | Family: Caprifoliaceae | Order: Dipsacales

Nativity

China

Size

2′ x 2′

Culture

Lonicera nitida ‘Twiggy’ prefers most fertile well drained soils. It will tolerate most pH of soils, including chalky.

Care

Requires little maintenance. If maintained as a hedge, it should be clipped three times a year to maintain its shape.

Foliage

The glossy leaves of the plant are ovate in shape, are 6 -16mm long and yellow in colour. The leaves are bright yellow in summer fading to yellow/green in winter. The stems of the plant are layered one on top of the other giving the appearance of a haystack.

Flowers

The flowers are creamy white, fragrant, 6mm long and they grow in pairs, they are two lipped flowers, often very fragrant.

Fruit

The fruit is an inedible, bluish/ purple berry about 6mm in diameter.

Light

Full sun to dappled shade.

Hardiness

Hardy from zone 6 to 9.

Propagation

Layering.

Uses

The landscape architect may find Lonicera nitida ‘Twiggy’ useful as a robust ground cover plant and is particularly useful when planted en mass when low maintenance is required. It may be used as a dense hedging plant. It is drought tolerant once established and will tolerate maritime conditions.

Tags

Winter Interest • Evergreen • Low Maintenance • Clay Soil • Deer Resistant • Slug Resistant • Drought Tolerant

Sources

http://www.plantdelights.com/Lonicera-nitida-Twiggy-for-sale/Buy-Twiggy-Box-Honeysuckle

This is a wonderful plant! I would recommend it for all gardens.

The plant prefers sun but will grow in partial shade. The leaves, however, will be greener, as seen in this photo.