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Planting and Caring for Honeysuckle Plants

Lonicera japonica

May 19, 1999
Honeysuckle (Lonicera) vines are easy to grow, vigorous, heat-tolerant, and nearly indestructible. The flashy and fragrant flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies all summer long. The resulting fruit of the Honeysuckle flower will provide a fall treat for your local songbirds as well.
There are many varieties of Honeysuckle which are suited to a variety of applications. The most common use is to allow it to grow along a trellis, fence, or other framework, but it can also be grown as a ground cover or used for erosion control. The vines will bloom heavily in spring and to some extent throughout the summer. Many honeysuckles will thrive in containers as well.

The general requirements and care for Honeysuckles is about the same, whether your plant is a vining type i.e. (Coral Honeysuckle... Lonicera heckrottii), or a shrub variety i.e. (Winter Honeysuckle... Lonicera fragrantissima). However, some are evergreen, while others are deciduous. The hardiness can often vary considerably with different hybrid varieties as well. Consult your local garden center to find the right plant to suit your needs and for your location.

Planting and care

Honeysuckle prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial sun, and even some light, afternoon shade. Once established, Honeysuckle needs only moderate watering, unless the summer is very dry. If the planting area is properly prepared and mulched, your Honeysuckle will be satisfied with a light annual applicaton of a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) at the beginning of the growing season, and then once again in the middle of the blooming season. They are usually sold in 1-gal. containers beginning in early spring.
Honeysuckle should be planted in early spring, as soon as frost danger has passed. Prepare the planting area as for any perennial and set the plants a minimum of two to three apart. (2 feet if you are using them as a ground cover) Water the plants thoroughly, and follow up with repeated soakings until the plant shows signs of new growth. Mulch the plant with heavy cover of leaves, to protect the roots from freezing as well as to conserve moisture in the summer. When your plant has finished blooming, you can prune for shape. (Only lightly prune plants until they are well established at about 2 years old)
If your Honeysuckle is to be grown on a trellis or an arbor, put it in place before planting, to avoid damaging your vine. Then plant your Honeysuckle 6-12 in. away from the support to allow enough growing room for developing stems. The vines should be tied to their support using strong, stretchy materials that won't cut into growing branches. Strips of old nylon hosiery work very well for this. Loop each tie into a figure 8, with the crossed portion between the stem and the support to keep stems from rubbing or being choked.
Hall's Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) may become invasive if it is not kept in check by prune back hard in winter to prevent the build-up of woody growth. This variety should not be planted near shrubs or small trees, which it may climb and strangle. Prune coral honeysuckle back in the winter to increase flowering. Don't over-fertilize.

Honeysuckle Propagation

(BY: Jiffymouse) Rooting honeysuckle is easy. The best time is when new growth starts to appear in the spring, although if there is green growth, you can do it indoors most anytime of the year. Cut a length of green "soft wood" growth from the end of one (or several) of the vines, making sure to get several sets of leaves. Strip the leaves from the end of the cutting nearest the cut end. You should have one or two leaf nodes bare and one or two sets of leaves left on the vine. At this point you have a couple of options. One is to dip the plant in rooting hormone and place in damp potting or rooting soil. The other is to place the cutting in a vase of water and allow the roots to develope that way. If you go with the water method, be sure to change the water regularly to prevent rot. You will see the roots forming, and when you have several good roots (an inch or so long) you can plant your new plant!

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