Growing Climbing Honeysuckles in Your Garden
These Ornamental Climbers Have Profuse, Often Fragrant Flowers
May 23, 2009
Honeysuckles are among the most popular and easy to grow groups of climbing shrubs for the garden. Most are fully hardy. Their twining habit makes them ideally suited to scramble through other shrubs or trees and, with suitable wire or trellis support, to be grown against a wall or fence. Some can also be used as ground cover. They range in height from around 6 feet to 15 feet or more.
Their beautifully ornate flowers come in a wide range of colours from pure white to pink, gold, orange-scarlet, deep red, purple and bicoloured combinations. Many varieties have a wonderful fragrance.
Most varieties have attractive glossy green deciduous foliage, but some are semi evergreen or evergreen. One popular variety, Lonicera Aureoreticulata, has pretty gold-veined semi evergreen leaves.
Cultivation
- Different varieties thrive in different situations, some preferring full sun, but most liking at least some shade. so follow the grower’s instructions for your particular variety.
- However, they also like their roots to be in cool, shady soil, so if you’re planting in full sunlight, shade the root area with under-planting or flagstones.
- Always plant at least a foot away from any wall to avoid the dry zone.
- Honeysuckles like a rich but well drained soil, so dig in plenty of peat or compost and fertiliser when planting. Don’t plant too deeply.
Pruning
- Climbing honeysuckles don’t normally need pruning except to contain their size. However, cut back any weak shoots to encourage stronger growth.
- When it is necessary to prune, it’s best done in autumn.
Pests and Diseases
- Most species are disease resistant, but all are vulnerable to aphids.
Species and Varieties
Among the most attractive and popular varieties, most of which are available from nurseries and internet suppliers are:
- Lonicera x Americana. Scented 1 ½ - 2 inch yellow/cream flowers maturing white from mid summer to autumn. Height 10-15 feet. Prefers a sheltered position in sun or shade.
- Lonicera brownii Dropmore Scarlet. 1 ½ - 2 inch orange/scarlet flowers with orange throats from mid summer to autumn. Height 10-12 feet. Prefers part shade.
- Lonicera x heckrottii Goldflame. Scented 1 ½ - 2 inch pink flowers with orange throats from early to late summer. Height 10-12 feet. Prefers a sheltered position in sun or part shade.
- Lonicera henryi.Scented 1 ½ - 2 inch yellow/flowers with a flush of pink in early and mid summer to autumn. Height 10-15 feet. Tolerates sun or shade.
- Lonicera Aureoreticulata.Small but fragrant white flowers from mid summer to autumn. Attractive yellow and green veined semi evergreen foliage. Good as ground cover. Height 10-15 feet. Prefers part shade.
- Lonicera periclymenum. The native European and SE Asian honeysuckle or woodbine. The two generally available cultivated varieties are:
- Lonicera periclymenum Belgica.(Dense heads of fragrant pink and red flower in mid summer followed by red berries). Height 10 - 12 feet. Tolerates sun or shade.
- Lonicera periclymenum Serotina, the late Dutch honeysuckle, (profuse, fragrant purple red and white flowers from mid summer to early autumn, coppery leaves and purple red autumn berries). Height 10 - 12 feet. Prefers part shade.
- Lonicera x tellmaniana. Large clusters of copper yellow flowers with a red flush in late spring and early summer. Height 10 - 12 feet. Tolerates sun or shade.
Alternatives to Honeysuckle
Other ornamental flowering climbing plants to consider along with honeysuckle are clematis, jasmine and wisteria.
 |
 |
