Perfoliate honeysuckle

More information about climbing honeysuckle plants

The genus Lonicera consists of numerous species - very popular is the honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium), whose whirl-shaped flowers exude a breathtaking scent. On house walls or on a trellis, the honeysuckle will develop a strong growth very quickly and is a good alternative to ivy. A distinction is made between deciduous and evergreen Lonicera species - all of which grow primarily in the northern hemisphere. If you plant honeysuckle, you will notice an impressive growth: they show an annual growth rate of between 50 and 100 centimetres. It is very well-proven as a privacy screen, even in the winter.

Find the right climbing honeysuckle plant in the Lubera garden shop

The honeysuckle also does very well in a pot. Many Lonicera species smell wonderful, some species remain rather small or have special flowers - decide which characteristics you like best. Honeysuckle is on the whole quite easy to care for: if the location is well chosen and the plant is regularly pruned, it makes no further demands on the hobby gardener.

Perfoliate honeysuckle species:

The following honeysuckle plants have a beautiful scent:

• Japanese honeysuckle 'Halliana'
• The native, tall forest honeysuckle
• The forest honeysuckle 'Serotina' with cute, bicoloured flowers
• Honeysuckle Lonicera heckrottii 'Goldflame'
• Lonicera henryi, 'Copper Beauty', impresses with its beautiful copper-coloured shoots and is ideal as a privacy screen
• The robust, very frost hardy and small, red honeysuckle ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ is also suitable for large containers on a balcony or terrace

The optimal location

Climbing honeysuckle plants generally require a bright place in semi-shade, although the light requirements vary somewhat from species to species. Too much direct sunlight does not have a positive effect on growth and the robustness of the plant. If, on the other hand, the location is too dark, the plant easily gets bare in the lower areas. This creeper feels most at home in humus-rich, lime-poor soil. Honeysuckles form very deep roots and can, therefore, assert themselves well in the event of root pressure from other woody plants. In general, most honeysuckles prefer fresh to moist, permeable soils.

Planting honeysuckle

If you want to grow a climbing honeysuckle plant the planting hole should be twice as wide and deep as the root ball. Ground covers are suitable for protecting the soil area in order to compensate for temperature fluctuations. Always keep the ground slightly moist - even in the winter.

Climbing aids

The honeysuckle as a climbing plant does not develop adhesive roots but winds itself up clockwise on objects. The Lonicera species greens house walls, trees and also pergolas nicely; they can take on a protruding growth and reach a height of up to 8 metres. For these reasons, the honeysuckle needs a stable climbing aid. Tensioned wire ropes, a trellis framework or simple bars are suitable for this purpose. Cross elements are also recommended, as they prevent slipping.

In a pot

Honeysuckle is well suited for growing in pots if you use a large planter, the right soil rich in humus, drainage in the bottom of the pot and a suitable climbing frame. For a better water flow, you can mix sand or lava grit into your soil. Honeysuckles do not tolerate waterlogging. In containers, it is possible for the plants to reach a height of up to 4 metres.

Care and pruning

It is best to apply a thick layer of compost in the spring and late autumn - this type of fertilisation is usually sufficient for the entire year. If you have a plant pot, you should apply a liquid fertiliser from time to time. The plant does not tolerate a great deal of drought - provide it with a regular supply of water at the height of summer.

With time, climbing honeysuckle plants have the property of becoming overgrown from below. Every few years, you should cut a third of the older main shoots close to the ground in the spring. In the summer, you can prune shoots that are too long as required, or cut off flowered shoots to a side shoot. Then, the next year, more flowers will appear on the fresh shoots. Older shrubs are thinned out by shortening about a quarter of the oldest shoots to the base.

Overwintering

Honeysuckles are generally hardy. In late autumn, however, you should still apply a protective mulch layer to the plants that are planted out. Compost or bark products are suitable for this. Special precautions should be taken in the case of honeysuckle in a pot. If it is not possible to move the planter to a frost-free area, wrap the planter generously with burlap, foil or a special fleece.

In the winter, the leaves of the honeysuckle often curl up, which is not a disease or deficiency symptom, but a process in the plant to limit water loss.

Toxicity

The honeysuckle fruit consists of small, blue-black berries. For birds, they are a tasty food source in the winter. For humans, however, the berries are slightly poisonous - so children should be kept away.