How to Grow and Care for Honeysuckle Flowers
Honeysuckle flowers appear on deciduous or evergreen vines and perfume the air with their spicy sweet scent, and are easy to grow and care for. Plants establish themselves and spread quickly. Depending on your climate and the variety of honeysuckle you choose, you will enjoy flowers from early spring all the way through fall. Most plants feature creamy white flowers that are about two inches long, but some giant varieties have flowers that reach up to seven inches in length. Honeysuckle plants can be hardy or tender so check with your local nursery about which type grows best in your zone. Most plants twine onto supports but some form shrubby bushes.
You can find honeysuckle plants readily available in small containers at the nursery. Early spring or fall in warm winter areas is the best time to plant them. The botanical name for honeysuckle is Lonicera so look for either name on plant labels. Lonicera is an undemanding garden selection and it accepts different soils and exposures.
Locate your plant in full sun if you live in cooler climates or protect it from burning afternoon rays in the dry hot regions of the country. Excavate a hole at least as deep as and twice as wide as the dimensions of the pot. Tap lightly on the pot to loosen the plant and place the honeysuckle in the center of the hole. Use soil in your garden to backfill the hole and amend the soil with some mulch if you have very heavy clay soil. Press down lightly with your palms to secure the plant in the soil, and water the plant deeply. Keep your newly-planted honeysuckle moist for the first few weeks until it establishes itself in your garden.
Plants tend to build up dead branchy undergrowth and some can become fire hazards. Lonciera japonica is a vigorous type of honeysuckle and Hall's honeysuckle variety has rampant growth. Especially on moist hillsides or shady areas, cut back vines heavily to control and renew the plant and to encourage abundant flowers.
