Lonicera fragrantissima

Lonicera fragrantissima, called winter honeysuckle in Dutch, is a beautiful medium-sized semi-evergreen shrub with a spherical, bushy and sometimes somewhat tangled habit. It blooms from January to April with sweetly scented, small, ivory-white flowers that grow from the armpits. The leaves are dull green, pointed and ovate or elliptical in shape. Lonicera fragrantissima does well in any well-drained soil and likes a sunny or partial shade position. The winter honeysuckle is hardy, slow-growing and does not require much pruning. The red berries are loved by the birds and the strongly scented flowers have good nectar for bees and insects. The plant is tolerant of sea wind and air pollution.