Beautifully scented Lonicera pileata

Lonicera pileata berries

Lonicera pileata flowers

The Lonicera pileata hedge that stopped me

Today I was walking through a commercial parking lot, past a low maintenance, uninspired garden.  What stopped me was a beautiful scent wafting through the air, above the smell of traffic on the busy arterial road.  Below the walkway where I was standing was a Lonicera pileata hedge, emitting a beautiful, citrusy fragrance.  The fragrance is not heavy, but light and fresh.

Lonicera pileata has many advantages.  It is a tough plant that can tolerate little water, and full sun to dappled shade.  This Lonicera is evergreen in Vancouver, and its branches grow in long, straight formations.  Branches near the ground will root, making the Lonicera pileata a great erosion control plant.

Although the flowers are insignificant to look at--only about 3mm long--they release a lovely scent.  These flowers give way to an iridescent purple berry in summer.

Lonicera pileata is not a specimen shrub, but creates a good backdrop for other plants, and fills a spot year round with green.  It can be pruned to shape, and usually grows to 2'.

What looks good now in Vancouver? pt 1

Gardens are not only for flowers, but we need to think of complementary shades of green, contrasting textures of foliage, and different shapes of leaves.  Not many plants flower in winter, but many plants are evergreen or have some other interesting quality to feature in a winter garden.

Arum italicum makes a lovely ground cover for winter.  The shiny, elongated heart shaped leaves are highlighted with white veining.  Other Arum species do not have the decorative leaves.  

Come summer, the leaves die down and give way to long stalks holding spires of orange berries.