How to grow and care for honeysuckle
Honeysuckle is a true crowd-pleaser, known for its sweet perfume, beautiful blooms, and knack for attracting bees, butterflies and birdlife. With flowers in shades of yellow, pink, white, red and orange, honeysuckle is a real looker, and its sweet aroma simply screams summer.
When you think of honeysuckle, you probably picture a climbing vine draped over a pergola or fence, but you can also find shrubs that are great for hedges and groundcover. So, whether you’re after a climber or a compact shrub, there’s a honeysuckle with your name on it.
When to plant
Top tips for growing Honeysuckle
- Plant in dappled sun or partial shade. The flowers love a bit of sunshine while the roots prefer the shade.
- Mulch around the base to keep the soil moist and weeds away.
- Honeysuckle hates wet feet. Keep the soil moist (but never soggy).
- If your honeysuckle gets wild and woody, cut it back in late winter to give it a new lease on life.
- If you’re growing a climber, support it with a trellis or pergola.
Types of honeysuckle plants
While we love honeysuckle for its beautiful blooms and sweet perfume, a word of warning: some types are invasive and might be considered a weed if you plant it in the wrong place. Just check with your local nursery before you plant anything.
Climbing honeysuckle plants
- Firecracker Honeysuckle: A fast-growing climber with two-toned blooms, fantastic in pots.
- Henry’s Honeysuckle: A strong climber with shiny evergreen leaves.
- Goldflame Honeysuckle: Known for its show-stopping flowers and great to pots.
- Japanese Honeysuckle: Grower beware! Japanese honeysuckle is a troublemaker. This invasive weed smothers natives and is best avoided unless you want to spend your weekends pulling it out.
Shrubby honeysuckle plants
- Box-leaved Honeysuckle: Shiny and evergreen
- Winter Honeysuckle: Fragrant white flowers that bloom in winter
Where to plant honeysuckle
Honeysuckle likes a lot of room. Grow climbing types on pergolas, fences and trees, or fill in bare spots with shrubs.
Both climbing and shrubby honeysuckles like dappled shade or partial sun. They want their blooms in gentle light, but their roots cool. Skip full sun – not a fan.
How to plant honeysuckle
Planting climbing honeysuckle
- Set up a trellis or wires to give your honeysuckle something to climb.
- Mix some compost into the soil.
- Dig a roomy hole (about 30-60cm away from walls or fences).
- Pop the plant into the hole and fill it with soil.
- Water and mulch.
- Tie the shoots to the trellis to encourage it to grow up.
- Water every other day for the first two weeks until your honeysuckle is settled.
Planting shrubby honeysuckle
Shrubby honeysuckle can be planted year-round, although avoid hot summer months when roots may struggle. Follow the same steps as above but skip the support structure.
Caring for honeysuckle
Watering and feeding
Honeysuckle is tough but still likes a bit of TLC:
- Keep the soil moist but never soggy, especially in spring. Water deeply at the bottom of the plant. Don’t water the leaves – it’s a sure-fire way to get powdery mildew.
- Feed with a Scotts Osmocote Controlled Release Fertiliser: All Purpose when you plant it and again each spring. If you’re growing in pots, feed with a Scotts Osmocote Pour+Feed All Purpose every couple of weeks during the growing season.
Pruning honeysuckle
- Late bloomers: Prune lightly in spring for fresh growth.
- Early bloomers: Snip back as soon as they finish flowering. About one-third of each shoot can go.
If your honeysuckle is woody and wild, don’t be afraid to give it a big winter chop. Cut stems back around 50 to 70cm, then thin out new growth in spring.
Growing honeysuckle from seed
If you’ve got the patience, then you might want to try growing honeysuckle from scratch.
- Pick the ripe red berries in autumn. Wear gloves - they’re pretty but toxic! Remove the red flesh and rinse the seeds with warm water.
- Honeysuckle seeds need cold to germinate. Sow seeds into the soil in late autumn or pop them into the fridge with some compost for about 12 weeks.
- Sow the seeds in a greenhouse in early spring and keep the soil lightly moist. Once your seedlings are about 10cm, you can plant them outdoors.
FAQs about honeysuckle
Does honeysuckle grow in shade?
Yep! Honeysuckle prefers partial sun or dappled shade. It does best with shade on the roots and light on the leaves.
Can honeysuckle grow in pots?
Absolutely. Climbing honeysuckle grows great in pots, as long as the pot is big enough. Just make sure the pot has drainage holes and you’re using a quality peat-free compost and balanced fertiliser.
Is honeysuckle invasive?
Some types can be. Keep an eye on saplings and make sure to check with your local authorities before you plant anything.
When does honeysuckle flower?
Honeysuckle flowers in summer through autumn, with some types flowering in late winter or early spring.
