Start growing
Prefers 'roots in the shade, head in the sun'. Needs a trellis or wall for climbing varieties.
GROW SOMETHING WONDERFUL
Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Your guide to planting, growing, and getting to know this plant.
THE PLANT NOTEBOOK
Honeysuckle care, from seed onward.
- Botanical name
- Lonicera periclymenum
- Common names
- Woodbine, Common Honeysuckle
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Genus
- Lonicera
- Species
- L. periclymenum
Growing with your kit
The Seeds In A Cup® kit includes a mini-trellis to observe the 'twining' behavior of the young honeysuckle vine.
Propagation
By seed, layering, or cuttings.
Seasonal growth & harvest
Blooms from early summer through fall; highly attractive to moths and hummingbirds at dusk.
Growing conditions
Woodlands and hedgerows.
Weather & tolerances
Adaptable to various soil types; moderate drought tolerance.
Pests & plant health
Honeysuckle aphids and powdery mildew.
Plant safety
Nectar is safe; berries of some species are toxic if ingested.
Botanical features
A deciduous climbing vine or shrub with incredibly fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers.
Varieties
‘Belgica’ (Early Dutch), ‘Graham Thomas’.
Garden & everyday uses
Ornamental fragrance. nectar is edible. berries are for birds only
Native range & distribution
Native to Europe and North Africa.
Conservation
Secure; some non-native species (like Japanese Honeysuckle) are invasive in the US.
Name origins
Named after Adam Lonicer, a Renaissance botanist; 'Honeysuckle' refers to the edible nectar.
History
Symbol of devoted affection in the Victorian 'Language of Flowers'.