Lonicera nitida golden glow

Description and Characteristics

Lonicera nitida 'Golden Glow', commonly known as Box Honeysuckle, is a compact, evergreen shrub prized for its bright golden-yellow foliage and neat, dense growth habit. A cultivar of the versatile Lonicera nitida, 'Golden Glow' adds a luminous accent to borders, low hedging, and containers. It is often used as an alternative to boxwood (Buxus) thanks to its similar structure but faster growth and greater resistance to pests like box blight.

The small, oval, golden-yellow leaves provide year-round colour, especially vivid in spring and early summer, and the plant can be shaped easily into formal or informal forms. It typically grows to around 1–1.2 metres high and wide, forming a dense, bushy mound if left unclipped, or a smooth hedge when trimmed.

While not noted for its flowers, it can produce tiny, creamy-white blooms in spring, sometimes followed by small purple berries, though these are generally inconspicuous.

• Evergreen shrub with golden-yellow foliage

• Height & spread: 1–1.2 m (can be kept smaller with pruning)

• Compact, bushy form—ideal for hedging, edging, and topiary

• Brightens up shady corners or mixed borders year-round

• Excellent for containers, pathways, or foundation planting

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Lonicera nitida 'Golden Glow' is low-maintenance, hardy, and adaptable to a wide range of conditions. It thrives in sun to partial shade and tolerates most soil types.

• Light Requirements:

  • Grows well in full sun to partial shade

  • Foliage colour is brightest in full sun but still attractive in shade

  • Tolerates urban and coastal conditions

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers moist, well-drained soil

  • Tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay, loam, or sandy soils

  • pH adaptable: thrives in acidic to neutral or slightly alkaline soil

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots

  • Once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant

  • In containers, water during dry periods

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring to encourage healthy growth

  • A mulch of compost in spring helps retain moisture and feed the soil

• Pruning and Shaping:

  • Responds very well to clipping—can be shaped into hedges, balls, or topiary

  • Trim lightly in late spring and again in summer to maintain shape

  • Regular pruning helps maintain dense, bushy form

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy in Zones 5–9 (RHS H5)

  • Fully evergreen in most of the UK and Ireland

  • No winter protection needed, though foliage colour may be more muted in deep shade or frost

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Landscape Value

Lonicera nitida 'Golden Glow' is an excellent shrub for structure, contrast, and all-season interest in a wide range of garden designs—from formal to contemporary.

• Design Applications:

  • Ideal for low hedging, pathway edging, or foundation planting

  • Works well in formal gardens, topiary, and urban courtyards

  • Excellent choice for brightening shady spots in mixed borders

• Companion Plants:

  • Combines well with darker foliage plants like Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, Heuchera, or Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’

  • Contrasts nicely with blue-toned grasses, Lavandula, Salvia, or Euphorbia

  • Makes a stunning backdrop for spring bulbs or seasonal bedding

• Container Use:

  • Great in pots or troughs, especially when clipped into shape

  • Use a peat-free, well-drained compost

  • Combine with seasonal perennials or trailing plants for added interest

• Wildlife and Environmental Benefits:

  • Provides shelter for birds and insects in borders or hedges

  • Supports pollinator habitats if left to flower

  • Useful in biodiverse low hedging schemes

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-resistant

  • Far less susceptible to issues than boxwood

  • Keep well-aerated and spaced to reduce any mildew risk

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.