Lonicera x purpusii 'Winter Beauty'

The winter flowering honeysuckles (Lonicera) are planted throughout the Gardens, and the ones near the Grand Entrance (area D on downloadable map) are flowering well. The honeysuckle family is a genus of about 180 deciduous and sometimes evergreen species of bushy or climbing shrubs. They were named by Linnaeus after Lonizer, a German naturalist of the 16th century.

L. x purpusii 'Winter Beauty' is a spreading, semi-evergreen shrub, a cross between L. fragrantissima and L. standishii. Both were discovered by Robert Fortune, the intrepid Scot, during his travels in China in 1845. The very free-flowering 'Winter Beauty’ form was raised by Hillier Nurseries from a cross made in 1966. This particular form produces fragrant cream-coloured flowers, often flowering from early December until April. The flowers themselves are really quite insignificant, but the power of the perfume is delightful!