Common honeysuckle

Climber

Lonicera periclymenum

Common honeysuckle

A native twining climber with richly scented cream and pink flowers in summer, followed by red berries for birds.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 4–7 m (13–23 ft)
  • 1.5–4 m (5–13 ft)
  • H6 · Zone 6
  • June–August
  • Deciduous

Overview

Common honeysuckle, also called woodbine or European honeysuckle, is a twining deciduous climber with clusters of creamy-white to yellow, purple-flushed tubular flowers in summer. The scent is strongest in the evening, when it draws in moths, and the flowers are followed by glossy red berries that birds eat.

It grows best with its roots in shade and its stems climbing into sun, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Train it up a fence, trellis, arch or into a hedge or tree. Prune after flowering to keep it tidy, or leave it alone in a wildlife garden. It is one of the best climbers for moths, bees and nesting birds.

Hardy to about −20°C (−4°F), USDA zones 5–9. It prefers cooler summers and is happiest in temperate and maritime climates; in hot regions give it shade and water. The berries are mildly poisonous to people and pets.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 4–7 m (13–23 ft)
Spread 1.5–4 m (5–13 ft)
Hardiness H6 · Zone 6
Flowers June–August
Soil Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Spreading
Water Moderate
Maintenance Easy

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -20°C (-4°F)
pH Range 5.5–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Moderate

Aspect Suitability

  • North-facing
  • East-facing
  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Site Tolerance

  • Exposed sites

Soil Tolerance

  • Clay
  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Persistence Deciduous
Colour Green
Leaf shape / texture ovate

Foliage interest: March–October

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Fruiting
Propagate
  • Flowering Jun Jul Aug
  • Foliage Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
  • Fruiting Aug Sep Oct
  • Propagate Mar Apr Jul Aug

How to propagate

Ways to grow more Common honeysuckle:

Layering Mar–May Easy

You'll need: Wire peg, compost

  1. Bend a low stem to the ground.
  2. Wound the underside at a leaf joint.
  3. Peg into compost-rich soil.
  4. Sever and replant once rooted.
How long
10 minutes
It's worked when
high
Then
Water through the first summer.
Semi-ripe cuttings Jul–Aug Easy

You'll need: Knife, pots, gritty compost

  1. Take 10 cm (4 in) cuttings of this year’s growth.
  2. Remove the lower leaves.
  3. Insert in gritty compost.
  4. Keep shaded and humid.
How long
15 minutes
It's worked when
high
Then
Overwinter in a cold frame.

Layer a low stem in spring, or take semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Maintenance Calendar

  • Mar Mulch over the roots to keep them cool
  • Apr Tie new shoots into supports
  • Apr Layer a low stem into the soil
  • May Check shoot tips for aphids
  • Sep Cut back flowered shoots by a third after flowering

Garden Design

Works well in: Cottage, Wildlife-friendly, Woodland / Shade

Plant near a seat or door to enjoy the evening scent.

Companion planting: Climbing roses, Clematis, Native hedging

Wildlife Value

  • Bees
  • Butterflies
  • Moths
  • Birds
  • Shelter
  • Food source
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Night-scented for moths
  • Caterpillar food plant
  • Nesting cover for birds
  • Food

Caterpillars it feeds: White admiral, Twenty-plume moth

Food for birds: August–October

Safety

  • Toxic to humans
  • Toxic to dogs
  • Toxic to cats

The red berries are mildly poisonous and should not be eaten by people or pets.