Box-leaf honeysuckle

Box-leaf honeysuckle carries tiny, densely packed evergreen leaves reminiscent of true box, but grows considerably faster and is more forgiving of hard, frequent clipping — closer in behaviour to a hedging shrub than a classical bonsai subject, which makes it a fast, low-stakes species to practise technique on.

Care at a glance

Watering

Let the top few centimetres dry between waterings. Roughly every 2 days in spring, 2 in summer, 3 in autumn and 5 in winter.

Light

Full sun, as much as you can give it.

Winter

Below that, an unheated shelter. Protect it when the forecast drops below -3 °C.

Feeding

Every 21 days, Apr to Sep, paused in the hottest weeks.

Repotting

Every 2 to 3 years, as buds swell, in Mar or Apr.

Growth

Fast growing. Hardy in zones 6 to 9.

The work calendar

Styles that suit it

MoyogiHokidachiYose-ue

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