vines in garden > other plants > Lonicera
Lonicera
- Honeysuckle
A popular climber with ornamental tubular flowers, fragrant in some of the varieties
(Lonicera caprifolium,
Lonicera heckrottii 'Goldflame',
Lonicera japonica,
Lonicera periclymenum).
Loniceras begin to flower in the second to fourth year after planting and, depending on the species, they come into bloom in May - September. Its twining shoots reach 3-6 m (0.5-2 m annually). They are particularly useful for a sunny site, but will also perform well in semi shade. Honeysuckles are quite tolerant when it comes to soil types, but they definitely grow better and bloom more profusely in fertile soil. Suitable for growing over arbors, fences, gates, trellises and other garden supports. As for fragrant varieties it's best to plant them near the doors, windows or park benches to fully appreciate their lovely scent.
In May honeysuckles are often subject to attack by aphides, especially in excessively dry or sunny positions. Most of them should be pruned lightly, when the need arises. After planting cut all the shoots at 1/3 of the height to encourage branching at the base. Select 2-4 strongest stems that will form the base of the plant and remove the rest. In the following years the varieties that flower on old wood (e.g. Perfoliate Honeysuckle, Tellmann Honeysuckle) should be pruned very lightly, just to remove weak, frozen growth or the stems that endanger the others. Every 5-6 years a hard rejuvenating pruning should be carried out. Honeysuckles that bloom on new wood (e.g. Japanese Honeysuckle and its cultivars, or Goldflame Honeysuckle) can be cut back hard in spring without fear of losing the flower crop.
- Lonicera - Trumpet Honeysuckle
- 'Blanche Sandman' - an exceptionally long and profusely flowering variety; scarlet flowers with a yellow interior are borne from June to October, followed by decorative, orange-red berries (July - October).
- Lonicera acuminata - Honeysuckle - a vigorous branching variety. Flowers, borne from June to October, are white on opening and then change progressively to yellow. Small, velvety-hairy evergreen leaves tend to freeze during harsh winters.
- Lonicera brownii - Brown's Honeysuckle - bright scarlet flowers from June to September, followed by decorative, orange-red berries (July - October).
- red flowers in the shape of a narrow tube.
Lonicera caprifolium - Perfoliate Honeysuckle - fragrant, creamy-white flowers, borne in whorls at the ends of the shoots during May and June, are followed by orange berries (July - October). Leaves are joined at the node and form a disc subtending the inflorescence.
- 'Inga' has slightly pubescent leaves. More resistant to powdery mildew.
Lonicera heckrottii - Goldflame Honeysuckle - bicolor, pink-cream flowers, (buds are carmine), from June to September.
- 'American Beauty' -bright orange flowers, from June to September, followed by orange-purple berries, in August - September.
- 'Goldflame' - fragrant, rosy-red flowers with a yellow interior. Purple berries from August to October.
Lonicera henryi - Henry's Honeysuckle - an evergreen climber with attractive, deep green leaves. Small, chocolate-purple flowers in June and July. Best grown in a sheltered position, in semi-shade. It can freeze during harsh winters.
Lonicera japonica - Japanese Honeysuckle,
- 'Aureoreticulata' - very interesting green leaves with yellow venation. Small white flowers that turn yellow with age. It may be used both as a climber and a ground cover.
- 'Halliana' - a vigorous climber with masses of small fragrant flowers throughout the summer (June - October). Blooms are white on opening and turn yellow later in the season. Semi-evergreen leaves. It may be used as a ground cover in large areas.
- 'Hall's Prolific' - selected from 'Halliana', it blooms earlier and more profusely.
- 'Purpurea' - purple leaves in autumn and winter.
Lonicera periclymenum - Woodbine Honeysuckle, creamy, richly scented flowers
- 'Serotina' - very fragrant, red-violet flowers on the outside with a creamy interior, from June to August, followed by coral berries from July to September.
- 'Graham Thomas' - strongly scented, beige-yellow flowers from May to September.
Lonicera tellmanniana - Tellmann Honeysuckle - very ornamental, intensely yellow-orange flowers in May - June. Orange berries in June - July.
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