How to grow Common honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum · woodbine, European honeysuckle

A deciduous twining climber native to Europe, grown for its creamy, red-flushed flowers that are richly scented, especially at night, from mid to late summer, followed by red berries. Very hardy, it climbs about 3.5–6 m over fences, pergolas and small trees.

Common honeysuckle — Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Quick facts

Type	Shrub
Family	Caprifoliaceae
Light	Partial shade
Frost	tolerates light frost
Where it grows	Open ground

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Care

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	balanced (NPK), at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—
Winter rest	—	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Best in dappled or partial shade, with the roots shaded and the flowering top in sun or light shade; too much shade means few flowers.

Soil

Any fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; heavy wet soil or a very dry site weakens it.

Care

Plant in late winter against a support and cut the existing shoots back by two thirds. Check and water regularly through the first spring and summer, about once a week in dry weather; later it needs only an occasional soak in hot summers. Feed once in spring with a general fertiliser and mulch with compost, which also lowers the risk of powdery mildew. Prune straight after flowering.

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.