Common Honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Also known as
Honeysuckle, Wild Honeysuckle, Early Dutch Honeysuckle, European Honeysuckle, Woodbine, Woodbine Honeysuckle, English Wild Honeysuckle, Dutch woodbine, Dutch honeysuckle, Eglantine, Bearbind
Photo by CandideUK (All rights reserved)
Full Sun
Easy care
Moderate watering
Frost Hardy
H7
RHS hardiness
-20°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
6m | Max | 3m |
1m | Min | 1.5m |
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
This plant has a strong fragrance
More images of Common Honeysuckle
Common Honeysuckle Overview
Lonicera periclymenum is a deciduous, woody climber from the Caprifoliaceae family. It produces oppositely arranged pairs of oval leaves and is grown mainly for its attractive scented flowers. Commonly known by the names Common Honeysuckle, Woodbine, Wild Honeysuckle and Eglantine, amongst others. Flowers are elegant and scented, coloured yellow, white or pink, they appear in clusters from summer, leading onto red berries. Honeysuckle is a vigorous climber with fragrant tubular yellow and pink flowers. It is a marvellous display scrub when in flower and will attract several birds and butterflies to your garden. It can serve as a stand-alone shrub or as a hedge. It has several medicinal uses and can grow in most soil types. Lonicera periclymenum is also known by the name Lonicera belgica.
Common problems with Common Honeysuckle
Aphids, thrips as well as a powdery mildew (in some plants) have been reported in Europe.
How to harvest Common Honeysuckle
Pick flowers throughout the summer. The flowers do not last very long once removed but makes a wonderful scented display.
How to propagate Common Honeysuckle
Cuttings
Semi-hardwood or even hardwood cuttings can be used for propagation. Use hormone powder to increase the chance of root formation.
Layering
Bend down the semi-hardwood branches and cover a section with soil. Remove the leaves from the section before covering it.
Seed
Special features of Common Honeysuckle
Hedge plant
This plant is famous for its ability to climb up walls, trellises and even other shrubs or trees. Be careful to plant them next to young, sensitive shrubs because they can prevent their growth.
Attracts birds
Several bird species are attracted to the sweet nectar as well as the red berries.
Attracts useful insects
Butterflies and moths pollinate the Honeysuckle as well as other plants in the garden.
Attractive flowers
Fragrant flowers are light yellow to white, with flushes of pink/purple.
Other uses of Common Honeysuckle
Wall or trellis, hedges, ornamental, wildlife, spring/summer interest.
Medicinal
Flowers have been used in syrup form for treatment of respiratory diseases and the leaves boiled for treating diseases of the liver and spleen.
Edible
Flowers contain large quantities of nectar which can be removed for energy purposes.
