Honeysuckle vines are nearly indestructible

In Greek mythology, Daphnis and Chloe were lovers who lived far from each other, and were only allowed to see each other while the honeysuckle was in bloom. Eros, the god of love, answered Daphnis, who prayed to him, to do something so Eros made the honeysuckle bloom from spring until fall.

Today you don’t need divine intervention to get the nearly indestructible honeysuckle vines to bloom.

Honeysuckles got their name because “honey” can be sucked from the nectar-rich flowers. The honey-sweet flowers attract hummingbirds, pollinator bees and butterflies throughout the summer.  After the flowers fade, the tiny fruits provide food for wildlife such as songbirds.

Like most vines we are used to seeing, honeysuckle vines can be supported on a trellis, pergola, or along a fence.

You can also allow the vines to sprawl along the ground without any support for a fragrant ground cover.  The thick vines can help control erosion on steep banks.

The most spectacular bloom is usually in spring with lighter blooms throughout the summer. There are even honeysuckle varieties that thrive in pots and containers.

Early spring is when you will find honeysuckle plants sold in one-gallon containers, and the earlier you plant them, the quicker they will bloom.  Put them in the ground any time after the danger of frost has passed.

Even though honeysuckles prefer full sun, they will tolerate some light shade.  It is a good idea to have any trellis or support posts in place before planting to avoid damage to the vines. Plant the vines two to three feet apart, and a foot away from the support structure. As the vines grow, tie them to the supporting structure.

To use honeysuckle as a ground cover, space the plants two feet apart in each direction. They will soon choke out most weeds.

Water the newly planted vines thoroughly.  An organic mulch such as grass clippings, leaves or straw will hold in ground moisture during the summer as well as protecting the roots from freezing in the winter.  

Once established, honeysuckles seem to do quite well on their own.  You can add compost or organic fertilizer in early spring and again during the middle of the blooming season.

Do not prune the plants the first year.  After the first year you can prune heavily while the vines are dormant in the winter.  Winter pruning will increase next year’s flowering.

Honeysuckles root easily from cuttings.  Spring is the best time to take cuttings, although it seems to root easily almost any time of the season.  Strip the leaves from the lower end of the cutting, nearest to the cut end.  Allow only one or two sets of leaves on each cutting.

Dip each cutting in rooting hormone powder or gel and place it in damp potting soil.

Many times cuttings will root in water.  After two or three weeks, roots begin growing and you can repot them or plant them directly in the garden.

There are literally hundreds of varieties of honeysuckles.  Some noteworthy ones include Major Wheeler, a brilliant red-flowered honeysuckle with mildew-free foliage,  The flowers bloom abundantly until the end of summer. Major Wheeler is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8.

The Scentsation honeysuckle is a patented fragrant honeysuckle with an overwhelming number of yellow blossoms. It grows 10 feet long and about five feet wide, so needs a lot of room to grow. It is hardy in USDA Zones 4-9.

Goldflame Honeysuckle (Lonicera heckrottii) has hot pink flowers on vines up to 20 feet long.  It is hardy in USDA Zones 5-9.

If you can gather enough flowers, the nectar lends a delicate honey flavor to garnishes or as a topping for ice cream.  Thank Eros for love and honeysuckles.