Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
Recommended citation
'Lonicera fragrantissima' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
An evergreen, partially evergreen, or deciduous bush 6 to 8 ft high, glabrous except for the bristly margins of the young leaves and sometimes the midrib Leaves oval, rather stiff and leathery, 1 to 2 in. long, two-thirds as wide, broadly wedge-shaped at both ends, but terminated by a short bristle-like tip, and bristly on the margins when young, dark dull green above, rather glaucous beneath; stalk 1⁄8 in. or less long. Flowers produced from December to March in several pairs at the joints, creamy white, very fragrant, 5⁄8 in. long; stalk glabrous, 1⁄4 in. long. Bot. Mag., t. 8585.
Native of China; introduced by Fortune in 1845. This is not a showy plant, but is valued in gardens for its early, charmingly fragrant blossoms. It varies from deciduous to evergreen according to the severity of the winter, but is rarely devoid of foliage. Often confused with L. standishii, it is, nevertheless, very distinct in the absence of bristles on the young shoots, flower-stalks, and corolla; the leaf, too, is shorter, and the apex is not drawn out as in L. standishii. L. fragrantissima, which is the superior shrub, starts to grow very early in the year. Both are distinct in their early flowering from all the rest of the honeysuckles.
Synonyms
Lonicera standishii Carrière
Treated by Bean as Lonicera standishii.
A deciduous or partially evergreen bush 6 or 8 ft high in the open, 12 ft or more against a wall; the bark of the stem and older branches peeling; young shoots warted and bristly. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, 2 to 41⁄2 in. long, 3⁄4 to 2 in. wide, rounded or broadly wedge-shaped at the base, slenderly pointed, prominently veined beneath, bristly on the margins and on both sides of the midrib, also more or less over the surface; stalk bristly, 1⁄8 in. long. Flowers produced from November to March (according to the mildness of the season), often in two pairs at each joint; flower-stalk has downward pointing bristles. The flowers are creamy white, very fragrant, about 1⁄2 in. wide, the tube of the corolla bristly outside. Fruits ripe in early June, red, the two ovaries united nearly to the top and forming an inversely heart-shaped berry; stalk 1⁄2 in. long, bristly. Bot. Mag., t. 5709.
Native of China; introduced by Fortune in 1845. It is in no way showy, but has always been a favourite because of the early date at which it flowers and for its charming fragrance. Although the first flowers come as early as November, it is usually at its best in February. It is perfectly hardy, and is only grown on walls for the sake of protection for its early flowers.