Lonicera gracilipes

Lonicera gracilipes, or slender-leaved honeysuckle, belongs to the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae. It is native to central and southern Japan. This species grows as a spreading shrub, rather than a climber. It loses its leaves each year. Its branched shape suits gardens that allow room for outward growth. Both its flowers and fruit add colour to the garden.

Garden plants reach about 6.6 feet [2 m] tall. The listed height range is 4.9–8.2 feet [1.5–2.5 m]. Spread reaches 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 m]. Plants take five to ten years to reach full size. The oval leaves are dark green when mature. New leaves have a red flush, while older leaves retain red tips. These leaf colours add interest beyond the flowering season.

Pink flowers hang from the branches in late spring. Each bloom has a tube or trumpet shape, with yellow anthers. Flowers appear alone or in pairs. Scarlet berries follow the blooms. Treat these fruits as ornamental, not as food. The RHS warns against people or pets eating them. It also advises gloves and other protective gear when handling plants. The fruit display does not make this an edible garden shrub.

Grow this honeysuckle in full sun or partial shade. Choose a sheltered site with soil that drains well. Moist soil is suitable, provided excess water can drain away. It accepts chalk, clay, loam, and sand. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. That rating covers minimum temperatures of 5–14°F [−15 to −10°C]. Suggested settings include coastal plots, cottage gardens, flower beds, and borders. It can also form part of a hedge or screen.

Possible pests include honeysuckle aphids, thrips, and glasshouse whitefly. Powdery mildew and fungal leaf spot may affect it. Silver leaf is another possible disease; honey fungus occurs less often. These are potential problems, not signs that every plant will suffer. Propagation options include sowing seed once it ripens and layering stems. Softwood, semi-ripe, leaf-bud, and hardwood cuttings offer further routes. The RHS places this species in pruning group 2. Its spreading habit should guide the space allowed at planting.