Honeysuckle Is a Pretty Plant That Can Be Invasive—Here's How to Grow the Right One

Lonicera spp. is a genus made up of 180 species of flowering vines and shrubs, commonly called Honeysuckle. Vining varieties are most popular for home gardens. Native species and cultivars offer highly fragrant flowers in a range of vibrant colors, usually followed by red berries. Flowers and fruits attract pollinators and wildlife. Blossoms of several varieties are also edible for humans but berries of most are toxic to both people and pets.

Some foreign species of this plant are so invasive they've given honeysuckle a notorious reputation. Fortunately for home gardeners who want a well-behaved flowering vine, the non-invasive cultivars are available as well as honeysuckles native to North America.

This article tells you how to grow the best varieties of honeysuckle and includes a list of species to avoid.

Warning-Exotic, invasive honeysuckle

These specials of honeysuckle are highly invasive in the Eastern U.S., establish quickly, and are extremely difficult to eradicate.

• Lonicera japonica-Japanese honeysuckle

• Lonicera maackii-Amur honeysuckle

• Lonicera taterica-Tartarian honeysuckle

• Lonicera morowii-Morrow's honeysuckle

Honeysuckle Care

Once established, honeysuckles are easy to maintain, needing little more than a light pruning every year. Varieties bloom on old wood, new wood, or both. Vines generally grow rapidly to 15 feet or more however there are slower-growing, shorter types suited for container growing. Choose one that adapts well to your climate and growing conditions.

• Plant in well-draining loam

• Provide sun for foliage and shade for roots. Similar to clematis vine.

• Irrigate weekly with 1 inch of water, in lieu of rainfall, for the first year.

• Support with a trellis, fence, or structure or elevate container plants to allow vines to drape.

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How to Plant Honeysuckle

When to Plant

Plant honeysuckle seedlings in early spring after all danger of frost in your growing zone. Seeds can be planted in the ground or outdoors in pots in autumn to cold stratify over winter.

Where to Plant

Honeysuckle adapts to many soil types but performs best in well-draining loam. Most types like plenty of bright direct sun but roots need shade. Meet this challenge with a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch. Vines grown in climates with hot summers benefit from some afternoon shade.

Planting Depth and Support

Dig a wide, shallow hole and set the rootball at the same level as in its purchased pot or sow seeds 1/4 inch deep. These rapidly growing vines need support so install a trellis at planting time or plant vines to climb a fence or structure. Eventually, most types will self-attach, but you can train young vines by tying them to your structure.

Light

Most honeysuckle vines need full sun on leaves but roots need cool moisture. Try planting in sunny locations with at least six hours of exposure daily and mulch roots with organic material.

Varieties like American honeysuckle are native woodland types that grow better in dappled shade. Read up on the light requirements for the variety you choose.

Soil

Honeysuckle adapts to soil type, but for healthy growth and abundant flowering, evenly moist, well-drained loam gives better results. Clay soils can cause stunting and vulnerability to fungal infections.

Amend overly dry or overly moist soil by working aged compost into the planting bed. Plants grow in fairly wide pH levels of 5.5 to 8.0.

Water

When setting out a new plant, give it 1 inch of water weekly for the first year. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist. Once established, rainfall is usually sufficient but irrigation may be needed during extended hot, dry spells.

Temperature and Humidity

Honeysuckle flourishes in temperatures between 55°F and 85°F. Plants may be evergreen or semi-evergreen in climates with warmer winters but most types go dormant when temperatures drop below 20°F.

Low humidity is better for healthy growth as too much moisture in the air leads to fungal infections.

Fertilizer

General-purpose fertilizer such as an NPK 10-10-10 can be added to mature plants in the spring. When first planting out, amend soil instead of adding nitrogen fertilizer which can increase vining and decrease flower production.

Types of Honeysuckle

With more than 180 species of honeysuckle and many more cultivars, there are plenty of good choices for your garden. Here are a few popular, well-behaved varieties.

• Lonicera sempervirens 'Coral Honeysuckle': Masses of trumpet-shaped scarlet flowers with yellow throats from early spring through summer. Native to Southeastern U.S. Non-fragrant but feeds bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

• Lonicera x heckrottii 'Goldflame Honeysuckle': A showy variety with coral outer petals opening to yellow inside. Flowers in spring and summer to first frost.

• Lonicera periclymenum 'Common Honeysuckle': Blooms spring to summer with flowers in white, yellow, and orange tinged with pink or red. Highly fragrant and moderately fast-growing.

Pruning

Honeysuckle vines produce flowers on old or new wood with some varieties blooming on both. Those that flower on old wood should be pruned in summer after the bloom period ends.

Types flowering on new wood can be pruned in late winter. Vines that bloom on both old and new wood may rebloom when lightly pruned after the first flowering. Light pruning encourages a greater number of flowers for next year for all varieties.

Propagating Honeysuckle

The easiest method for propagating honeysuckle is to take softwood cuttings. This is often done in spring after new green shoots take off but can be done at any time during the growing season. Cuttings root in soil or water. Keep in mind that soil-rooted cuttings are often sturdier and less prone to transplant shock.

You'll need a potting mix of half sand and half compost, pots with drainage holes, rooting hormone, and a hand pruner. For rooting in water you'll need just your cutting tool and a clear glass. Follow these steps:

1. Use the pruner to remove several 4- to 6-inch softwood cuttings from the tips of the vine.

2. Remove the bottom leaves, keeping the nodes and leave a single set at the top.

3. Fill a large pot or several small pots with a moistened mix of half compost and half sand. Several cuttings can be rooted in one larger pot.

4. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone to cover at least two leaf nodes.

5. Make a narrow, deep hole in the potting mix.

6. Insert the cutting and firm soil around it to keep it upright.

7. Water, allowing any excess to drain, and place in a warm location with bright, indirect light.

8. Roots form in two to three weeks. Test by gently tugging on the cutting. Resistance indicates roots have formed.

9. Transfer seedlings into individual pots, if necessary, and continue to grow out until plants have several sets of new leaves and an established root structure.

10. Harden off before transplanting into an outdoor location.

To root cuttings in water follow steps 1 and 2 above. Place them in a clear glass of clean water with nodes submerged and foliage above water level. Change the water when it becomes cloudy. Once the cutting has three or four roots an inch long, transfer cuttings into pots and grow out until new green growth appears. Do not transplant young seedlings outdoors until all danger of frost has passed.

How to Grow Honeysuckle From Seed

New plants can be propagated from seeds contained in the bright red berries but will only grow from ripe, red berries and not green ones. Soak berries in water to remove pulp and allow seeds to dry. They need a cold stratification period and can be planted outdoors in autumn to stratify naturally or placed in moist moss and refrigerated for two months. Refrigerated seeds are sown in spring after the final frost.

Plant honeysuckle seeds 1/4 inch deep in loamy soil. Germination occurs between two and six weeks. To start seeds in pots, plant one seed in each cell of a flat or small pot filled with sterile potting mix combined with sand.

Place in a warm location that receives bright, indirect light. Once true leaves appear and seedlings are sturdy enough to handle they can be moved into individual pots and grown out until final frost. Harden seedlings off before transplanting into an outdoor location.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Aphids and spider mites are attracted to honeysuckle. At first sign of a problem, apply a strong spray from your garden hose or use a horticultural spray such as neem oil.

Wet soil can result in fungus, causing canker and infections like powdery mildew. Plant in well-draining soil and avoid overwatering. Honeysuckle failing in wet soil can be transplanted to a drier location after the first year.

How to Get Honeysuckle to Bloom

Vines often bloom the first year. Encourage flowering by keeping plants evenly moist and providing adequate light. Avoid heavy pruning and overfertilizing.

Bloom Months

Honeysuckle plants are considered a harbinger of spring, leafing out early and blooming in May and June. Bloom months are variety dependent with some types flowering from spring up until the first frost.

What Do Honeysuckle Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Flowers are trumpet-shaped or tubular and about 1/2 to 1 inch across. Buds of one color may open to flowers with contrasting inner petals. Vines produce multiple single blooms in reds, oranges, pinks, white and yellow. Petal tips may be tinged with a contrasting color.

Flowers are highly fragrant with a warm, floral scent comparable to honey or a combination of jasmine and vanilla.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Vines grown in ideal soil and light conditions for their specific cultivar yield a proliferation of flowers. Prune your variety at the appropriate time and use a light touch for more flowers next year.

Caring For Honeysuckle After It Blooms

Honeysuckle flowers do not need to be deadheaded. Letting them drop naturally allows the red berries to feed birds and other wildlife.

Common Problems With Honeysuckle

These ornamental vines are relatively free of problems that plague other flowering vines but there are a few signs your honeysuckle may need some intervention.

Yellowing and Deformed Foliage

Aphids and spider mites are sap sucking insects that damage foliage causing yellowing, curling and other leaf deformities. Aphids leave behind a sugary substance that attract ants. Watch for these pests and take appropriate steps early to get rid of them.

Powdery Mildew

This is the most common fungal infection in honeysuckle vines. A white powdery substance coats leaves and vines. Powdery mildew is most likely to crop up in times of high humidity or after heavy rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do honeysuckle vines come back every year?

Yes. Honeysuckle vine, Lonicera spp., is an evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous perennial vine depending on variety and growing zone.

Are honeysuckle vines easy to grow?

When planted in adequate soil and light conditions these vines grow rapidly and do not require much care other than light pruning annually.

How do you keep honeysuckle blooming all summer?

Choose a long-blooming cultivar such as Goldflame or Serotina. Plants that flourish in full sun and warm climates with low humidity are more likely to bloom longer than those that grow in part sun and dappled shade.

Read the original article on The Spruce.