From time to time, I get to share a photograph of a plant that isn't already on the web – a Botany Photo of the Day Exclusive, I suppose. Today's images is one of those, though the plant is starting to become commercially available in North America (a search for its name turns up only a few North American nursery catalogues and some botanical work on the species in China).
This little-known honeysuckle, Lonicera crassifolia, forms a prostrate mat of evergreen foliage. The epithet crassifolia translates to “thick-leaved”, a suitable descriptor for this species.
The second photograph was snapped a few weeks ago, when the flower buds were beginning to develop. The first photograph, taken last Friday, shows some of the first flowers to blossom this year, but also hints at the profusion of flowers to come. Today, I observed plants with a mass of yellowish flowers tinted by hints of orange and pink, all offset against the dark-green foliage. Quite pleasing to the eye. If I have an opportunity to photograph it this week, I'll post an image as a follow-up comment.
Science / art resource link: Sci-Philately, “A Selective History of Science on Stamps”. My favourite is the set of six stamps from the British Antarctic Territory in the Geology and Mapping collection.
Query: Is this adorable lonicera hardy in marvelous Minnesota?
So where is it from in China?
It has the look of an alpine heathland plant
Does it have a perfume?
Elisabeth, apparently hardy to zone 5, so I think that rules out Minnesota.
Michael, I don't have access to the garden's database right now to give a quick answer re: what province of China.
And Margaret - I didn't check, but perhaps I'll be able to investigate tomorrow. Of what little information there is online, fragrance isn't mentioned (some honeysuckles don't have any, so it wouldn't be surprising).
Michael, Lonicera crassifolia is native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China. The plants in the photo were grown from cuttings collected in the wild , near the Yangtze River in southwest Sichuan.
it's a beautiful plant, Daniel -- i look forward to seeing more photos of the blossoms.
The leaves look as if they could withstand sub-tropical climates. Is this the case? Is it from the area of China around Chongching? Would the plant survive in southwest Florida with the high heat and humidity and rainy season?
How big does this lonicera get? Do we know if it "spreads vigorously" or is self-containing or easliy contained?
Thanks.
Can you get this plant at any lower mainland
retail garden centres at all.
And is it self contained habit.
What zone? What spread and ht.
Thanks for your reply.
S.Tebbs
This lovely little plant is available in the Vancouver area at plant sales at Darts Hill Garden Park. For a listing of Open Houses and plant sale dates please visit http://www.dartshill.ca/calendaropen.html
I have six Hall Honeysuckle plants, and they are so beautiful and grow and grow! I bought six of these little Honeysuckle plants at our local nursery in Poulsbo, Washington. I have never seen these plants before, and am so glad I bought them. I can't wait to see the beautiful flowers, and see these little plants grow. I am going back to purchase more of these plants. I feel lucky our local nursery had them in stock.
I'm curious to know if Charlotte's question (6/7/06)was ever answered. I'm in Zone 9B, east coast Florida and I'd love to grow this as a ground cover if it will take our heat and humidity. Can I grow it in shade here? I have an east-facing bank that gets a good bit of sun where I'd like to plant it, toward the top of the bank for best drainage.Thanks for any info.