Lonicera xylosteum

Lonicera xylosteum - Fly Honeysuckle

General:
The fly honeysuckle is native to Central Europe. It is not to be found in western northern Germany, but otherwise grows in many parts of Germany in herbaceous forests, hedges and groups of trees. The plant often develops into a broad, upright, mostly bulky shrub with a height of up to 3 meters. The elliptical leaves are deciduous, hairy on both sides and turn yellow in autumn. In the spring the honeysuckle forms very pretty white-yellow flowers and later red fruits, which remain on the plant even in winter. The branches are noticeably light and were used for brushing sticks in the past. The trunk is also light-colored, cracks with age and the wood becomes very hard. In Greek, xylos means 'wood' and osteon means 'bone', hence the species name.

Care as a bonsai:
Very beautiful bonsai can be raised from honeysuckles. The trunk and bark are attractive, the morning dew remains on the leaf in the form of countless water droplets, the flowers protrude nicely from the crown in spring and the red fruits adorn the tree, especially in autumn and winter. The plant is very easy on pruning and forms fine branches. The shoots get hard very quickly. It is therefore best to correct the shape of the annual shoot. If it is too hot, you should put it a little protected. It also grows well in the shade. The roots are fibrous and very dense. So it has to be repotted regularly.