Description Description Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ (Honeysuckle ‘Baggesen’s Gold’; or Box leafed Honey Suckle) is a fully hardy, versatile, compact, evergreen shrub with small ovular to round leaves. Tiny white flowers appearing in Spring, potentially progressing into small violet berries. It is perfect for ground cover, low garden edging, hedging/screening or topiary. Its foliage varies throughout the year, being light green in Spring, turning a warm gold during summer months, switching to a warm bronze colour in the winter supplying consistent interest. Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ has arching shoots. These are shorter more upright branch than other varieties of Lonicera Nitida such as the ‘Earnest Wilson’ allowing it to be shaped more easily which is partly why it has become increasingly popular compared to other varieties. Lonicera Nitida and Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ have recently become viable alternatives to box due to this dense habit and box suffering increasingly from Box Caterpillar and Box Blight whereas this variety is generally disease and pest free. Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ has a RHS hardiness rating of H6 so it can survive temperatures down to -15 to -20. It is also wind tolerant so it can provide cover for your garden allowing plants and wildlife to survive. Though it may suffer with colder winds in Northern England. Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ prefers well drained sites and full sun but it can tolerate partial shade but may have more of a greenish tinge. It is not particularly fussy about anything else but will grow quicker on richer soil. In prime conditions its growth rate can reach 40-60cm a year. When Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ is grown as a hedge you can clip it anytime between Spring and Autumn. Alternatively if grown for other reasons it fits into RHS Pruning Group 2. This means straight after flowering, remove any dead or damaged shoots to their point of origin. Where there is an abundance of stems remove to stop over crowding. Then take out weak shoots so the plant concentrates its resources better. Recommended planting spots for Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ include but are not limited to: city and courtyard gardens, costal, cottage and informal gardens, low maintenance, hedging, screening and garden edging. Growth rate 40-60cm in prime conditions Max dimensions 1.2m high x 1.2m wide Growing conditions Full sun to dappled shade May have a slightly greener tinge if planted in a shadier position Pruning As a hedge prune anytime between Spring and Autumn Otherwise remove any dead or damaged shoots to their point of origin. Where there is an abundance of stems remove to stop over crowding. Then take out weak shoots so the plant concentrates its resources better straight after flowering Hardiness RHS hardiness rating 6, hardy down to -15 to -20. Toxicity Lonicera Nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ has no toxic effects reported to horses, dogs, cats, livestock, people or birds. Buying a hedge There are many benefits to buying a hedge, which many people forget. For more information on why to buy a hedge, visit our page on why buy a hedge? When buying a hedge it is important to know the different forms of hedging. For more information visit our page on Bare root, root ball, potted plants. When purchasing a hedge it is important that you give it every chance it can to thrive. For more information on planting visit our Planting page.
