Common Honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum is native to Europe, ranging from the British Isles and southern Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean and east to Poland and the Balkans, where it grows in hedgerows, woodland margins, and scrub on various soil types.

• Known since ancient times — the name "honeysuckle" refers to the sweet ("honey") nectar that can be sucked from the flowers
• The species name periclymenum comes from the Greek "periklymenon," the name used by Theophrastus for a twining plant
• Featured prominently in English literature and folklore — Shakespeare mentions honeysuckle in A Midsummer Night's Dream and other works
• In traditional European herbalism, honeysuckle was used for asthma, coughs, and skin complaints
• The genus Lonicera is named after Adam Lonitzer (1528–1586), a German botanist and physician
• The genus contains approximately 180 species of shrubs and vines native to the Northern Hemisphere
• Selected cultivars including "Graham Thomas" and "Serotina" ("Late Dutch Honeysuckle") are among the most popular garden vines in the world
• Children across Europe have traditionally sipped the sweet nectar from the flowers for generations
• The popular woodland cultivar "Graham Thomas" was selected by the legendary British horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas from a population in a Somerset woodland

Common Honeysuckle is a vigorous deciduous to semi-evergreen woody vine climbing by twining stems to heights of 4–7 m, creating an airy, informal coverage on fences, trellises, and through shrubs.

Stems: Slender to moderately woody, green to brownish, twining clockwise around supports. Young stems are green and somewhat hairy.

Leaves: Opposite, ovate to elliptic, 4–10 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, dark green above, paler and slightly glaucous beneath, with smooth margins and a pointed tip. Upper leaves are often fused at the base around the stem (perfoliate), creating a distinctive disc-like appearance. Leaves are semi-evergreen in mild winters.

Flowers: The crowning glory — tubular, two-lipped, 4–6 cm long, produced in whorled clusters at the ends of the stems. Flowers open creamy-white to pale yellow and age to golden-yellow, often flushed pinkish on the outside. The long, narrow tube contains abundant sweet nectar. The intensely sweet, honey-vanilla fragrance is strongest in the evening and on warm, humid days. Blooms from June to September, often in flushes.

Fruit: Clusters of round berries 6–8 mm in diameter, red to orange-red when ripe. TOXIC if ingested — contain saponins and cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Birds eat the berries without harm and disperse the seeds.

Roots: Fibrous root system.

Common Honeysuckle grows naturally in hedgerows, woodland margins, scrub, and coppice forests across Europe, where it twines through hawthorn, blackthorn, and other shrubs.

• A classic plant of the European countryside — found in hedgerows, on woodland edges, and in scrub throughout its native range
• Thrives in full sun to partial shade — flowers most freely in sun but tolerates considerable shade
• Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained, alkaline to neutral soils, reflecting its woodland-margin habitat
• The tubular flower shape is an adaptation for pollination by long-tongued moths — the pale color, tubular form, and evening fragrance are all moth-pollination syndromes
• Important nectar source for moths, bees, and butterflies during summer
• Berries are consumed by birds including thrushes, blackbirds, and warblers, which disperse the seeds
• Provides nesting habitat and cover for birds in hedgerow and scrub habitats
• Generally pest-free but can be affected by aphids and powdery mildew
• The plant is not invasive in its native European range but has naturalized in parts of North America

Common Honeysuckle is a beloved garden vine that combines intoxicating fragrance with easy care.

Site Selection: Full sun to partial shade. Plant where the evening fragrance can be enjoyed — near patios, windows, doors, or seating areas. Provide a trellis, fence, arbor, or allow it to scramble through large shrubs and roses.

Soil: Moist, well-drained, fertile soil. pH 6.0–7.5. Prefers alkaline to neutral conditions. Add compost at planting.

Planting: Plant container-grown vines in spring or fall. Space 1–2 m apart. Water well during establishment.

Watering: Regular watering during the first growing season. Moderately drought-tolerant once established. Mulch to retain moisture.

Pruning: Prune after the main flowering flush (August). Thin out congested growth, remove dead wood, and shorten overly long stems by up to one-third. Can be cut back hard to rejuvenate old, overgrown plants. Avoid hard spring pruning which removes flower buds.

Training: Guide twining stems to the support initially — the vine will climb on its own once established.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–9. Very cold-hardy.

Propagation: By semi-hardwood cuttings in summer, layering, or seed.

Nectar: The sweet nectar at the base of the flower tube is EDIBLE and can be sipped by gently pulling the flower from its base.