Honeysuckle is a light pinkish tubular shaped , nectar filled flower that has a very sweet fragrance. Everyone who has these plants knows how good the scent is and can be recognized with that. They look good on walls ,stairs, side buildings and even on the balcony. These plants are also known by the queen of flowering vines as they have trailing stems that can be used in archways, tree trunks, arbors etc. They can tolerate heat and look gorgeous in any landscape. The bottom roots should be in a shade area and the top vines can be placed in any supportive wood where it gets sunlight.
There is a Cookbook which is named after a honeysuckle plant and it has 100 healthy recipes that you can try at your home. It is Made specially for those people who want to try fresh and new delicious meals. Here is the Book Link.
Honeysuckle is used to grow in the garden to feel the long lasting fragrance, some people even have these to cover the window screen for privacy reasons. There are different varieties of honeysuckle plant but only some have these trailing vines, some are bushy or shrub type and the only reason they are not grown is because of its nature to become invasive in multiple locations of the state , It can outnumber the existing plant species and takeover its place, majority of impact can be seen in other plant growth.
Japanese honeysuckles are the most desirable plants of all others and used by highway designers to restrict the erosion of metal in different projects. They are ornamental and fast grower plants. Let’s Check the background now.
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Table of Contents
Background Information
Honeysuckle belongs to Caprifoliaceae Family and is discovered in Eurasia and North American with more than 179 species combined. The other name you can call honeysuckles is Lonicera and there are 3 varieties which are popular in states including Lonicera sempervirens, Lonicera periclymenum and Lonicera japonica which is Japanese honeysuckle spices.
There is a confusion in L.periclymenum as it is also called woodbine & L.sempervirens is also known by woodbine honeysuckle, quite confusing the variety are but they all follow the common name which is honeysuckle.
| Family | Caprifoliaceae |
| Honeysuckle | Lonicera |
| USDA hardiness | Zone 4-9 |
| Native | North America, Eurasia |
| Type | Vine Based |
| Variety | 180 |
| Height | Vary from 10-30 feet. |
| Width | 23-26 feet |
| Flower color | Pink, Red, White |
| Light | full or partial sun |
| Water | Keeps it Moist. |
| Propagation | Stem Cutting or Seed |
| Bloom Season | Summer or Fall |
| Foliage Color | green or yellowish |
Honeysuckle Vine for Sale :
These 2 are the most popular and brought by many people in North America, one is invasive but still people do prune them to make it good , one big reason is to keep these is its fragrance.
Honeysuckle Vine Care
If you keep consistency in pouring water whenever honeysuckle needs then yes it’s easy to care for this vine plant. Pruning is the second most talked thing whenever we discuss honeysuckle because if you don’t trim it , it will be uncontrolled and
can be invasive which results in covering the whole ground. So it is advised to have a pay of pruning shears or clippers to shape them and control them so that it doesn’t become a complex math problem. Keep them in the garden boundaries and
always check the growth of honeysuckle vine. So the Time you would be doing pruning is either in autumn or winter when they are sleeping or half wake basically in a dormant stage. If you have left them growing for a year or 2 , then make sure to hard prune them.
Don’t Worry about trimming as the vines are naturally powerful and can grow back easily in spring or summer. For those of you who work in highway projects , can avoid cutting it as these plants can reduce the erosion time or can protect the material.
Always prune them in a year , to make sure they doesn’t become a problem for someone in future, as this can increased your work. They will thrive next year and so on and can give beautiful blossom and sweet smell in garden area.
Let’s discuss each of factor one by one:
Growth Rate
Honeysuckle vine particularly grows about 30 feet long but to reach that result it takes 9-10 year of time. Other varieties like L. fragrantissima which take years like 6-9 years for a mature height, and they grow in USDA zone 4,5,6,7,8. Vine type is the fastest grower and You may see its bloom in its first year, others honeysuckle takes 3 year for natural bloom.
Soil
These vines are best fit for acidic to alkaline soil range, As you know if it is less than 6.5 its called acidic and more than 7.5 is alkaline and the middle value from 6.5 -7.5 considered as neutral. Most soil can be seen growing in 6 -7 pH scale. and our honeysuckle can thrive on 5.5 to 8 value so it has no worry over soil. Honeysuckle vines love moist soil so make sure to keep the soil moist, not soggy dipping in water. It is also one of the great plants which can handle the heat or drought days.
Here is one such soil for honeysuckle – Check on
Water
As you know honeysuckle vines have no problem in growing drought areas, it can thrive there but you should take care of its watering and making the soil moist not wet. There are issues with overwatering that can harm the vine plant and problems like disease and root rot might happen.
Phase 1
When planting the new vine plant, make sure to sow the root ball in the soil and give the pot plenty of water for the first time. For Easy root formation , you can use rooting hormone, that can enhance the rooting and you may see vines growing pretty quickly.
Phase 2
For Starting months avoid excessive watering and only make sure your potted soil is moist and doesn’t get wet completely. Minimal watering can be done here for roots. If you have done over watering then make sure to put them in the sun so it gets dry and can be saved from root rot and other diseases. If your area doesn’t have rainfalls , then you can give water in this situation but always check the 2 inch of soil to be moist , if found dry then only give water.
As you know over watering and making plants wet excessively can affect its future growth also, You can give little water everyday and see plants thriving perfectly. In The end of Fall or starting of winter , avoid giving water for like 4 -6 days , They can get more moisture in those days to fulfill water requirement. And there is also a big reason for less watering. Honeysuckle goes into dormant periods or sleeping so they stop the regular growth pattern. If you give them water this time , they may not respond to that and it will affect the roots. Make sure to be careful in giving water in winter season &
Phase 3
When The root ball and stem is intact on the soil and it is well established now it can adjust to many drought situations easily. In Hot days of summer , you need to watering otherwise they can manage for some days without water. It doesn’t mean that you leave you plant alone without giving them water, when you have time give it in a day or 2 or may be one time in 3 days , if you are busy person. If your honeysuckle leaves started to wilt or drop , make sure to check
The overwatered soil and also the holes in the pot , overwatering can be a threat to plant life. So be careful.
Temperature
Most varieties of honeysuckle can grow in between 56 to 84 F temperature and don’t worry it can tolerate many different climatic situations and easily grow back in spring. It can grow in most zones , the only exception is colder climates which are harsh for them but they still survive. It sheds leaves in cold weather that’s why it’s called deciduous and enjoys in warm weather that’s why it’s called evergreen.
Light
Honeysuckle loves light full of sun rays , they enjoy direct sunlight and grow happily. They are one such plant that are placed in locations where other plants fear to get planted or they may get scorched but our honeysuckle enjoys this warm climate. It can also grow in partial shade , but make sure this vine plant receives sufficient sunlight everyday which is about 6-7 minimum because light is something that helps the plant produce flowers. That’s why the Flowering plants owner gets advice to shift this plant in a sunlight area that is useful for blooms. With light you protect your plants from many pests.
Humidity
Honeysuckle can live in low to moderate humid climate but for heavy Cold temperature they can stop the growth for that time period , and slowly grow, It still survives but they may get damaged.
Pests
When I talk about pests on honeysuckle , it is rare to see any because the damage was restored by another vine. Scale Insect may attack the honeysuckle but the damage is little, aphids can harm newer growth base stem but not the woody stem that is on the fence or trellis. Caterpillars can also be attracted to this but those can be removed by taking each of them out by hand(wearing gloves).
Diseases
Fungal diseases can leave and stem if not resolved. Powdery mildew is one that can be found if soil is too dry. So the solution would be to keep the plant soil moist and by daily watering it little. cankers may happen if the bark on the stem is somehow damaged , leaf blight can also happen.
Most pests and diseases can be solved with pesticides and fungicide.
Here is The Best 2 in 1 Pest and Disease Solver.
Toxicity
Short answer is Yes they are poisonous and can give issues in stomach result in vomiting and even irregular heart rate can be seen. Japanese honeysuckle is one such which is invasive and also toxic , Stem and veins both are considered to have some kind of toxins that are harmful. I Have Read a Full Article on ” Is Honeysuckle toxic to dogs, humans, cats? Check Now” .
Honeysuckle Varieties
Before propagation , you need to know which of the variety is non invasive and which is highly invasive. I have Listed variety of honeysuckle and please check below:
I have Given the 2 Most Selling Varieties ,you will find link in the start of article.
Non Invasive
- Diervilla Lonicera Northern Bush honeysuckles
- L. Oblongifolia Swamp Fly Honeysuckle – buy now
- L. heckrottii Goldflame Honeysuckle – buy now
- L. Canadensis Fly Honeysuckle – buy now
Invasive
- L. xylosteum
- L. tatarica
- L. japonica
- L. xbella
- L. morrowii
- L. maackii
For In-depth information on Various Variety Check : Types of Honeysuckle ?
Honeysuckle Propagation
Do you want to multiply these vines in your garden that can reach to every corner? Honeysuckle propagation is the way to do it and it can be applied in 3 ways which i am sharing below.
Seeds, Stems are the basic way to propagate honeysuckle but there is one more way which accidently becomes popular and the method is layering. You can apply all three methods and choose whichever you think is easy and can save your time.
Stem Cutting / Growing honeysuckle from cuttings
First You should know when to propagate honeysuckle vine? You can do this at the start of summer when the climate is warm or late spring is also called the growing season. So Now Stem cutting is the basic method and it is also the best one.
1 . Sterilize the cutting tool for honeysuckle.
Cleaning pruning shears is also very important as it clear out the bacteria present on the sharp object.
2 . Take 5-6 inch of stem.
Don’t cut short stems, go with 5-6 inches of stem and It is best if you do it in the morning when the plant has plenty of moisture in it.
3 . Remove leaves about 2 inch from the base of the stem.
Make sure to snip off the leaves present on the base about 2-3 inch depending on how much stem you will bury on the soil. After removing those nodes are also going to develop roots so it’s good to remove them , it will help plants to rapidly make roots.
4 . Prepare Pot for the honeysuckle.
Prepare well drained soil, check pot holes for drainage and moist the soil with plenty of water and wet the whole pot.
5 . Place Stem, Water it for some days until germination.
Now Put your cutting in the soil and water it , keep it moist for some days, regular watering is appreciated.
6 . Place them in Partial Shade for some days.
I don’t actually recommend anyone to put a newly planted plant in full sun as rooting needs moisture so partial shade can do the job here.
7 . Take good care.
take care of plants, Also If you are still reading one more thing you can do with the stem cutting to put it in rooting hormone powder , it will boost the root growth.
Layering/Stem Cuts
This can be done using the old vines or the existing one that becomes long and reaches to the ground. What You need to do is make a cut on the long vine with a pruning shear or knife and that part should be facing the earth , Sow the cut inside the soil , or dig a small hole and put that vine layer in the hole and put soil just above that. Now water it and make sure it should be moist for some days so it develops roots from the cut and a new layer of vine will form. This is how you do honeysuckle layering.
Seeds / Growing honeysuckle from seed
Most natural process, Propagation can be done with honeysuckle seeds, You can take seeds out but that’s only possible if it’s mature enough , So buying seeds is the only option available. Choose a small pot and Place the seeds in potting soil and make sure it is in a shade area where only indirect light appears, it needs Moisture to sprout. You can sow honeysuckle seeds in autumn and also they don’t need an outdoor environment , it can be grown indoors in your care. Always Moist the soil until whenever it dries.
Honeysuckle Pruning
First question people generally ask when to prune honeysuckle? Whatever it’s a vine or shrub, The best time to prune them is spring when you see flowers starting to drop on the ground. Also Because of its invasive nature, You can prune them any day or any month of the year. When They are in Dormancy period in winter then make sure not to hurt them with prunes.
So How Honeysuckles are pruned?
1 . Take A Clean Sterilized Pruning Shear.
It’s important as we don’t want any bacterial or fungal infection it gets from cutting tools.
2 . Find What to cut , Start with dead stems.
Check Which Stem seems dead means Dried , There are some stems that are partially damaged and some have diseased. Cut all those stems that have problems.
3 . Locate which stem is grown on the wrong side.
Sometimes we see stems grow in the opposite direction and we want them to go right and not left side. You need to cut the base of that stem where it started to grow, it’s good practice pruning them so they grow in the right direction. It also divides the nutrients on other stems that makes honeysuckle not growing long enough.
4 . Honeysuckle becomes invasive then trim maximum.
If your honeysuckle is grown too much and disturbing other plant species and also using the ground of those varieties then hard prune them to 2/3 part of the honeysuckle. They can grow back easily as it was a fast growing vine plant.
5 . Remember to shape them for a good view.
Shaping honeysuckle and making sure they look good can make your garden more beautiful.
6 . Remove the top bush that is trapping light.
So why I am Telling you to remove the top layer lightly because it helps the inside of the honeysuckle stem to avoid any future disease as sunlight can be useful to prevent any problem of fungal infection.
Most Searched Questions
Planter for honeysuckle
We have given 2 most use planters for honeysuckle , you can use it or hang them with the top so vines can go out and drop on the bottom its also looks great. Here are the planters for lotusmagus.com users, please check by going to the link as their are so many color available to choose from.
Growing honeysuckle in pots
So when you grow them in pots , Select the good location where it can get sufficient sunlight as honeysuckle loves direct sun rays and they enjoy the Hot climate. You can grow them in pots but also have a trellis so it goes upside on the wall and thrives more. You can also use a table or stool for the vines to grow vines and take care of water they need to be moist not wet. Pots can stay in shade but vines can take full sun , this is how they grow.
when to plant honeysuckle
Plant them in Either late spring or start of the fall as They don’t prefer cold Environment so Early spring had Frost , better wait. Once you start growing honeysuckle make it moist about 2 inch and always check soil if it is too dry water it immediately.
Honeysuckle in pots over winter
In Winters honeysuckle in pots needs frost blankets or bubble wrap or something that can avoid the harsh cold. You don’t need the entire plant to be wrapped in the cloth of something , The only thing that needs warmth is a base where roots exist. When you cover with Blanket it makes heat and gives a warm environment to the plant that way it survives in winters.
FAQ’s
Does honeysuckle need trellis?
These vines requires something to climb so they grows long, You can use trellis or normally people use galvanised wires that can be tied to the wall, as this will help the honeysuckle vines to grow high. If you are on tight budget then use a stool and round the vine there grow there also. even your garden fence is used for honeysuckle, its stem can grab the fence and grow.
How fast does honeysuckle climb?
There are many varieties that can grow up to 29-30 feet long and many regular types can reach up to 10 feet. It takes a long 10 years to reach a mature level and this much height.
Do hummingbirds like honeysuckle?
yes hummingbirds love honeysuckle and they are attracted to them with the color and good fragrance. Butterflies and bees can be seen like this plant. There are varieties which have orange flowers , some have white and others have yellow flowers based on the region they have grown. Most Lovely Smell is from Japanese Honeysuckle that has strong stems and can tolerate many climates.
Will Honeysuckle hurt my dog?
According to USDA , Honeysuckle grows berries and the sap it produces are poisonous and if ingested by dog , he can get issues like breathing problem , vomiting , heart problem etc. So If you have dog, cat or any other pet , make sure they didn’t eat any of this. I mean if our animals get food daily then they don’t eat any things specially plants.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle can add great fragrance and beauty to the garden so We highly recommended this plant to be one such plant that grows in your garden. Propagation to easy growing to scent to beauty they have everything.
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