Lonicera nitida - Poorman's box

Latin plant name Lonicera nitida Common plant name Poorman's box Plant type Perennial Shrub Size (meters) < 1 m Distinguishing features The species is a broadleaf evergreen shrub. The leaves are dark green and 6–16 millimeters long. The flowers are creamy white, fragrant, 6 millimeters long, and grow in pairs. They appear at the end of spring. The fruit (rarely formed on clipped specimens) is an inedible bluish-purple berry about 6 millimeters in diameter. The growth rate is moderate or fast growing. The species is resistant to deer and rabbits. Birds are attracted to the species. The species is commonly confused with cotoneaster species. The difference between the two is that cotoneaster has alternate leaves while this species has opposite leaves.