Winter Honeysuckle, also known as Lonicera fragrantissima, is a versatile plant that generally prefers full sun. It thrives when planted in an area that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Full sun exposure allows the plant to develop strong and healthy growth, producing an abundance of fragrant flowers.
However, Winter Honeysuckle can also tolerate partial shade, meaning it can grow and flower in areas that receive some sunlight but are partially shaded for a part of the day. In such conditions, it may not bloom as profusely as it would in full sun, but it can still thrive and add beauty to the landscape.
It is important to note that Winter Honeysuckle is not well-suited for dense shade or deep shade areas. These conditions typically result in weak and leggy growth, and the plant may not flower as well. If you have a spot in your garden or landscape that is heavily shaded, it might be better to choose a different plant that is more shade-tolerant.
In my personal experience, I have grown Winter Honeysuckle in both full sun and partial shade areas. When planted in a sunny location, the plant produced an abundance of flowers and had a more compact and vigorous growth habit. On the other hand, when planted in a partially shaded area, the plant still bloomed but had a slightly more open and sprawling growth habit.
To summarize, while Winter Honeysuckle prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade. However, to ensure optimal growth and abundant flowering, it is best to plant Winter Honeysuckle in an area that receives adequate sunlight for most of the day.
