Climber
Common honeysuckle
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in June | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | Flowers in September | ||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in September | Plant in October | ||||||||
| Prune | Prune in February | Prune in March | Prune in August | Prune in September | ||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in June | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September |
Overview
Lonicera periclymenum is the native woodbine that twines through hedges and woodland edges, with whorls of creamy, pink-flushed tubular flowers from early summer into autumn, followed by clusters of glossy red berries. The fragrance is richest in the evening. 'Graham Thomas' has cream flowers ageing to yellow, 'Belgica', the early Dutch honeysuckle, flowers from late spring, and 'Serotina', the late Dutch, carries purple-red and cream blooms well into autumn.
Where to grow common honeysuckle
In the wild it grows with its roots in shade and its head in the sun, and that is how to plant it: on a fence, pergola, arch or into a hedge or tree. It tolerates most soils, including clay and chalk, and copes with north-facing walls, though it flowers more freely in brighter spots.
Planting
Plant in spring or early autumn, enriching the soil with compost. Set it 30 cm or so away from a wall or fence so rain reaches the roots, and lean it towards the support. Mulch the base to keep it cool.
Care through the year
Spring
Tie in new stems and mulch generously while the soil is still moist.
Summer
Water in dry spells; drought-stressed plants attract aphids and mildew.
Autumn
Leave the berries for birds, and trim long shoots once flowering ends.
Winter
Check supports, as a mature plant becomes heavy and wind can loosen them.
Pruning
After flowering, shorten the flowered shoots by about a third to keep the plant compact. Neglected plants that have become a bird's nest of bare stems can be cut hard back to around 60 cm in late winter or early spring; they regrow quickly but may skip a year's flowers.
Propagation
Layering is the easiest method: peg a low stem into the soil in spring and it will root by autumn. Semi-ripe cuttings in summer and hardwood cuttings in late autumn also work well.
Common problems
Aphids are the main pest, especially on plants in hot, dry spots; improve watering and mulching and wash colonies off with a hose. Powdery mildew coats leaves in dry summers. The native plant is the caterpillar food of the white admiral butterfly, so tolerate a few nibbled leaves.
Guides to the problems most likely to affect common honeysuckle:
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in February, March, April, August, September and October. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.