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Key characteristics

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Height: 18 in to 24 in
Width: 4 ft to 8 ft
Flower color: Tiny creamy white flowers often hidden among foliage with a subtle appearance
Foliage color: Small glossy dark green leaves with a dense layered evergreen habit
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate
Maintenance: Low; trim as needed to maintain shape and control spread
Growing zone: USDA zones 6 to 9
Wildlife: Birds attracted to purple berries and pollinators attracted to small flowers

Shrubs

Lonicera pileata

Privet Honeysuckle

Lonicera pileata produces small, creamy white tubular flowers in late spring, tucked along the stems and followed by translucent purple berries. Tiny, oval leaves are deep green and closely spaced, forming a dense, layered mat with a smooth, finely textured surface. The foliage lies in neat, overlapping tiers, creating a soft, spreading effect, while the flowers remain subtle within the canopy and give way to ornamental fruit.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Sun Gardens
Slopes & Banks
Pathways & Walkways
Bird Gardens

Companion plants

Abelias · Tufted hair grass · Stonecrop · Coneflower · Agastache · Blazing star

Design tip

Use Lonicera pileata to soften hard edges or cover broad areas where its low, spreading habit can create a continuous evergreen layer. Allow it to spill slightly along pathways or across slopes, using its finely textured foliage as a quiet backdrop for more upright or colorful plants.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)