Lonicera pileata 'Purple Pearl' | 1.3 Litre Pot | 30cm - 40cm Height

Price range: £2.66 through £3.38

Common Names

  • Boxleaf Honeysuckle
  • Privet Honeysuckle

Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’ is a versatile evergreen Boxleaf Honeysuckle. Its dense, spreading habit provides year-round interest with glossy foliage that turns purple in winter. Inconspicuous flowers are followed by striking, translucent purple berries, making it ideal for groundcover and wildlife gardens.

200 in stock

£3.38
3 – 9 pieces
£3.15 (7% off)
10 – 24 pieces
£2.66 (21% off)
25+ pieces
3
Lonicera pileata 'Purple Pearl'
£10.14

Discover Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’, a versatile evergreen shrub offering year-round interest with its attractive foliage and distinctive berries.

Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’, also known as Boxleaf Honeysuckle, is an outstanding evergreen shrub highly valued for its dense, spreading habit and seasonal colour shifts. Its small, glossy leaves provide a lush green backdrop for much of the year. Furthermore, cooler temperatures often bring a charming purple flush to the foliage, adding depth to the winter garden. This resilient plant is an excellent choice for various garden applications, consistently delivering reliable performance and visual appeal. It effortlessly enhances many landscape designs.

Key Features of Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’:

  • Evergreen foliage provides year-round structure and interest.
  • Small, glossy leaves with an attractive purple tint in colder weather.
  • Produces inconspicuous creamy-white flowers, followed by striking purple berries.
  • Dense, low-growing, spreading habit, ideal for groundcover or low hedging.
  • Extremely tolerant of various growing conditions and pruning.
  • Attracts pollinators and provides berries for birds.

Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’ is a captivating cultivar of the species Lonicera pileata. This plant is commonly known as Boxleaf Honeysuckle or Privet Honeysuckle. It is a distinguished evergreen shrub. It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family.

The genus name ‘Lonicera’ honours Adam Lonicer, a notable German botanist. Furthermore, ‘pileata’ translates to ‘capped’, a reference to the calyx structure. ‘Purple Pearl’ perfectly describes the plant’s unique, glossy, translucent berries.

Foliage and Seasonal Beauty of Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’

Throughout the spring and summer, Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’ showcases small, ovate, dark green leaves. These leaves have a pleasingly glossy texture. As autumn progresses and winter approaches, the foliage transforms.

It often develops a beautiful purple flush, particularly when exposed to colder temperatures. This delightful colour change adds significant visual interest during bleaker seasons, thus ensuring garden appeal persists all year.

Blooms and Berries for Wildlife

During late spring to early summer, this Boxleaf Honeysuckle produces small, creamy-white flowers. These blooms are quite inconspicuous. Nonetheless, they attract various pollinators, including valuable bees. Following the flowering period, the shrub then develops its namesake “purple pearl” berries. These small, shiny, translucent purple fruits emerge in abundance. They provide a striking contrast against the dark foliage. Furthermore, birds appreciate these berries, making the plant a beneficial addition for garden wildlife.

Ideal Garden Uses and Adaptability

Gardeners often choose Lonicera pileata ‘Purple Pearl’ for its exceptional versatility. Its dense, low-growing, and spreading habit makes it an ideal choice for groundcover, effectively suppressing weeds. Moreover, it works wonderfully as a neat, low hedge or to create defined edging for borders.

You can also plant it on banks or slopes to prevent erosion. This resilient shrub tolerates regular pruning well, allowing gardeners to maintain its shape and size easily. It thrives in a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to full shade, and adapts to various soil types. Therefore, it suits many garden designs across the UK.

Max Height 0.80 at maturity
Max Spread 1.20 at maturity
Growth Rate Average
Average growth
Position
Full Sun Partial Shade Full Shade
Soil Type
Clay Sandy Silt Loam Chalk
H6 H6 – Hardy in severe conditions

Very hardy. Tolerates temperatures typical of a continental winter.

−25°C +15°C
Typical minimum: -20°C to -15°C

Care Notes

Lonicera pileata 'Purple Pearl' is a low-maintenance evergreen shrub. Water regularly during dry spells in its first year to establish a strong root system. Prune lightly in late winter or early spring to maintain its desired shape and density, or to remove any dead or damaged growth.