Tick prevention is a major concern in most areas. Even in your own backyard, you can be exposed to disease-carrying ticks. Any steps you can do to prevent their populations from thriving will protect you and your pets and family. Surprisingly, this includes removing non-native honeysuckle plants. 

Why is Bush Honeysuckle Bad? 

Bush honeysuckle is a group of non-native deciduous shrubs. Originating in Asia, these plants came to North America via Europe in the late 1800s. Not long after, they became popular landscaping and ornamental species. 

Bush honeysuckles are now considered invasive throughout most of the eastern and midwestern states. There are many reasons to consider these non-native honeysuckles a problem: 

• They crowd out native species and reduce plant diversity. 
• They make it more difficult for tree seedlings to survive in forests.
• By reducing plant diversity and forest health, bush honeysuckles negatively impact insects, amphibians, pollinators, and other native wildlife. 
• Birds eat honeysuckle berries, but the bush species provide “junk food” for birds with too few nutrients. 

Honeysuckle and Deer Ticks

It isn’t just wildlife and native plants and animals that suffer because of invasive honeysuckle. Researchers have found that bush honeysuckle is also bad for human health. 

One of the reasons bush honeysuckle has an advantage over many native species is the duration of its leaves. It leafs out earlier in spring and stays green later in fall than many other plants. This is an advantage for deer. They find green leaves earlier in spring and later in fall in areas where honeysuckle has invaded. 

What this means for human health is greater exposure to ticks and tick-borne diseases. Studies have found that white-tailed deer numbers can be as much as five times higher in areas with bush honeysuckle. With deer, come tick species that carry several diseases. 

How to Prevent Ticks in the Garden

Two important things you can do to reduce tick populations go hand-in-hand: remove invasive honeysuckle and keep deer out of the garden. 

If you have bush honeysuckle in your yard, remove it entirely. If you’re not sure, read up on identifying the species. Similar species to distinguish it from include Japanese and native honeysuckles, which are all vines, coralberry, winterberry, and native viburnums. 

The simplest way to get rid of invasive honeysuckle is to pull it out by its shallow roots. Do this early in spring or in fall when they are greener than native species. This will make it easier to determine what to pull. 

Removing honeysuckle will go a long way toward minimizing deer in your garden, but there’s more you can do. Plant more species that deer don’t like to eat. Use fragrant plants—onions, garlic, herbs—near plants that deer like as a way to repel them. A fence or thick hedge can also keep deer out of the yard. 

Use motion-activated devices to scare off deer that venture into your yard at dawn, dusk, and nighttime. Lights that come on at night when they move, for instance, are a deterrent. 

Keeping invasive plants and deer out of your garden will benefit your own safety and that of your native wildlife. Start with the honeysuckle to significantly reduce tick numbers and use other measures as needed.

Honeysuckle is a controversial plant. While North America has native species, invasive honeysuckles are a real problem. They out-compete native plants and provide a less nutritious food source for wildlife. More recently, scientists have discovered another problem: Non-native honeysuckles might increase your yard’s mosquito population.

Why Is Bush Honeysuckle Bad? 

While the U.S. has native honeysuckles—attractive flowering vines that pollinators love—non-native bush honeysuckles have become much more widespread. The most common are Tatarian, Morrow’s, Amur, and Bell’s. 

Non-native bush honeysuckles are bad to have around mostly because they crowd out native species that are better for wildlife. They leaf out earlier and block light to incoming native plants. 

Birds eat the berries of bush honeysuckle, but they are essentially junk food and don’t provide adequate nutrition. Another reason to remove any invasive honeysuckle from your property is that they attract and support disease-carrying mosquitoes. 

What Attracts Mosquitoes? 

Mosquitoes carry many diseases, notably in the U.S., the West Nile virus. They’re more than just a nuisance, and it’s best discourage them from congregating and breeding in your yard.

Mosquitoes might love your garden if you have standing water and a lot of yard debris, like grass clippings, overgrown plants, and leaf piles. They are also drawn to certain plants, like those that grow in water or tolerate standing water. 

Plants That Attract Mosquitoes Include Amur Honeysuckle

Water and leaf litter are the main attractants for mosquitoes because they lay eggs in water and feed on the bacteria that grow on decaying leaves. Scientists have also discovered that the leaf litter of certain plants, when dropping into standing water, attract and better support mosquitoes. 

This is another reason to dislike non-native honeysuckle. Researchers found that the habitat created by standing water and Amur honeysuckle leaf litter yields high amounts of adult mosquitoes. What makes these among the best plants for mosquitoes isn’t yet understood.

Another species that had a similar result was autumn olive, also invasive. The study found that blackberry, a native species, resulted in a large deposit of mosquito eggs, but low survival rates of the larvae. More research is needed to figure out why different leaves in the water impact mosquito survival. 

Knowing which plants attract mosquitoes and the conditions in which they thrive can help you make your garden more comfortable. It can also protect you and your family and pets from disease. If you have bush honeysuckle, take steps to eradicate it.

There’s nothing like a wreath for festive holiday décor. Both indoors and out, wreaths lend a natural, seasonal note to holiday decorations. Learn how to make a honeysuckle wreath for a fun project and keepsake you can use for years to come. 

Harvesting Honeysuckle Vines

You can make a wreath out of most types of vines. You can also make a wreath from twigs, but vines are perfect because they are long and flexible. 

If you happen to have a lot of honeysuckle growing wild in your yard or neighborhood, it’s an obvious choice for wreathmaking. There are many uses for honeysuckle vines, including wreaths, baskets, and garlands.

Fall and winter are the perfect times to harvest honeysuckle vines. This is when the vines are most flexible. Take only the vines you plan to use right away. Cut vines will stiffen quickly, becoming unusable. 

Cut lengths of vine using a good pair of shears and shape them into coils. You may want to boil the vines before using, but it’s not necessary. Boiling them for about 20 minutes kills any critters, makes the vines more pliable, and allows you to strip the bark. 

How to Make a Vine Wreath Base

With your vines cut, de-leafed, and boiled if you chose to do so, you’re ready to make a basic wreath. The simplest way to do this is to create a tight, circular bundle of vines and use one long vine to wrap around it and hold everything together. 

You can also choose one thick vine to create a circle. Secure the two ends with twine and weave the thinner vines around it. If you find it difficult to shape the vines into the circle, use a structure as a guide. 

A wire frame, which you can find at any craft sore, is a perfect base. You can also use a wire basket. Use spring clamps to secure the vines to the frame as you add them. 

Once you have a thickness you like, tie twine around the wreath in several places. Wrap one or more vines securely around the wreath and tuck their ends in. The shape should hold after you cut the twine. 

A honeysuckle vine wreath is a pretty decoration as is, but you can also add anything you like to the base: pinecones, greenery, ribbons, ornaments, and more. Change these out by season, and you have a year-round wreath.

Growing honeysuckle azaleas is a great option for shady areas and anywhere you want to enjoy a beautiful flowering shrub with a sweet aroma. With the right sun and soil conditions, this is an easy shrub to grow and shouldn’t be afflicted by disease or pests. Just be aware that every part of this plant is poisonous and should not be consumed.

What are Honeysuckle Azalea Plants?

Honeysuckle azalea (Rhododendron luteum), also known commonly as pontic azalea, is native to Eastern Europe, this deciduous flowering shrub has become popular in the U.S. in zones 6-9. Its cheerful flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

It is known as honeysuckle azalea because the shrub produces pretty, yellow flowers that give off a sweet, delicious scent – akin to that of honeysuckles. Plant this azalea near a patio or porch to enjoy the smell. It also does well as a privacy screen or hedge.

Honeysuckle azalea grows 4 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m.) tall and just about as wide. Blooming in spring, these shrubs produce clusters of bright yellow flowers that are about two inches (5 cm.) wide. The leaves turn lovely shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall.

How to Grow Honeysuckle Azalea

With the right conditions and environment, honeysuckle azalea care isn’t difficult. These shrubs prefer some shade. Full sun can scorch the leaves, but they will tolerate day-long sunlight if you keep the soil moist and cool with regular watering and good mulch. Choose a spot that has some protection from the coldest winter winds.

The soil must drain well. Although this type of azalea prefers moister soil, it can’t tolerate standing water. The soil should also be a little bit acidic, so modify, if necessary, before planting. Leaf mold is a good choice of mulch, as the shrubs like soil rich in humus.

Aside from keeping the soil moist and mulch intact, there is little you need to do to care for your honeysuckle azalea. You can remove spent flowers if you choose. This isn’t necessary but will encourage new blooms to develop.

Western honeysuckle vines (Lonicera ciliosa) are evergreen flowering vines that are also known as orange honeysuckle and trumpet honeysuckle. These honeysuckle vines climb up some 33 feet (10 m.) and decorate the garden with sweet smelling, orange blossoms. Read on for information about these vines including tips on how to grow orange honeysuckle.

What is Western Honeysuckle?

This North American native vine produces lovely, fragrant flowers. Bees and hummingbirds love western honeysuckle vines for the fragrant, trumpet-shaped blossoms that are rich in nectar. Kids also love to suck the sweet nectar from the base of a honeysuckle flower.

Gardeners, on the other hand, appreciate the way these vines twine their way up fences and trellises or ramble over trees. They provide year-round greenery as well as brilliant flowers in season.

Western honeysuckle vines bloom in late spring. The orange-red flowers hang in clusters at the tip of branches. True to their common name, the flowers look like narrow trumpets. These develop into orange-red fruit that wild birds appreciate.

How to Grow Orange Honeysuckle

If you want to start growing orange honeysuckles, select a site that gets some sun. Western honeysuckle vines do well in a sunny or partially sunny site. These vines grow best (and western honeysuckle care is easiest) in mild or cool regions. Plant them in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8.

The native range of this variety extends from British Columbia south to California, and east to Montana and Utah. You’ll have a harder time growing these honeysuckles in hot areas where the soil is dry. You can start the vine by planting seeds or by propagating it from cuttings of mature wood. 

Western honeysuckle care is easiest if you plant the vine in moist soil. Don’t worry about perfect drainage with this variety, since it grows in clay as well as loam. Moderate drainage is sufficient.

Remember that this is a twining vine. That means that you should determine in advance where you want it to ramble and set up trellises or other structures. If you do not, it will twine up anything in its growing area.

Honeysuckles get a bad rap, and for the most part, they deserve it. With a little knowledge and care, they can be a great benefit to the garden. Keep reading to learn more about responsible honeysuckle growing as well as honeysuckle planting drawbacks.

Honeysuckle Planting Pros

(Liz's viewpoint) While they have beautiful and fragrant flowers, several popular species are highly invasive outside their native Asia, and they're notorious for choking out local plants. There are several shrub varieties too, and while they don't spread as vigorously as vines and might seem like a good idea, grow very densely and manage to choke out native plants. These should also be avoided. But not all honeysuckles are like this, and there are, in fact, several good honeysuckle plants.

There are native and non-aggressive honeysuckle plants. Not all honeysuckles are invasive, and not all are non-native. Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a North American native with red flowers that are extremely attractive to hummingbirds. If you're looking for a reliable native plant that won't cause trouble, this is the one, and it comes in a wide variety of cultivars. Some other good, responsible choices are Brown's honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownii), winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima), and Woodbine (Lonerica x americana).

They're tough. One of the reasons the Asian varieties are such a nuisance is that they're very hardy and adaptable, especially in the American South where temperatures don't fall too low. Luckily, this toughness translates to the good varieties as well. If you're looking for a no-nonsense, reliable plant, honeysuckle is a good bet.

They attract pollinators. This is one area where the North American native trumpet honeysuckle really shines. Because of their red color and tubular shape, the vine's flowers are ideal for hummingbirds, and they really do attract them. Put a vine near a picture window or patio to reap the benefits. If you plant it, they will come!

They smell heavenly. Even more than their invasive qualities, honeysuckles are best known for their sweet smell and flavor. What kid hasn't plucked a flower or two to taste the drop of nectar inside? Unfortunately, trumpet honeysuckle doesn't have much of a scent, but some other non-invasive varieties do have that amazing fragrance. These include European honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) and winter honeysuckle. Of course, nothing quite matches the heady scent of Japanese honeysuckle, especially for the many of us who have it deeply tied up in our heads with memories of spring.

While you should never plant a Japanese honeysuckle, there's nothing to stop you from sniffing the ones that are already growing. Even bad plants have a good quality or two.

Cons of Honeysuckle Planting

(Mary's viewpoint) There's no question that honeysuckle blooms are beautiful and the aroma is heavenly, but it's important to know exactly what you're planting. Invasive species of honeysuckle, including Japanese honeysuckle, have become an absolute nightmare for many well-intended gardeners who regret ever planting these aggressive honeysuckle plants.

In fact, Japanese honeysuckle and other non-native species have been classified as noxious weeds in several states. If you aren't aware of the many honeysuckle planting drawbacks, consider the following information:

It can overwhelm nearby plants. Invasive honeysuckle vines, which are non-native, can out-compete native plants for nutrients, air, sunlight and moisture. The vines can ramble over the ground and climb up ornamentals, small trees and shrubs, smothering them, cutting off their water supply or stopping free flow of sap in the process. One vine can reach lengths of 80 feet (24 m.)

It spreads and grows just about anywhere. Japanese honeysuckle, which was introduced to the United States in 1906, has been a particularly problematic invader since 1919. Many invasive honeysuckle plants, including Japanese honeysuckle, were planted along the nation's highways to stabilize banks and control erosion. The plan worked, but unfortunately, invasive honeysuckle is an opportunist that has spread into woods, glades, prairies, savannahs and floodplains, climbing over everything within its reach. Like most non-native species, it has few natural enemies to keep it in check.

It's difficult to control. Invasive honeysuckle is extremely fast-growing and very difficult to get rid of. The vines grow by both roots and rhizomes, and if that weren't enough, they also root at nodes along the vines. Animals and birds disseminate the seeds far and wide.

Only Go with Good Honeysuckle Plants

Honeysuckles have a delicious scent that attracts humans and pollinators alike, and they can be a huge boon to your garden provided you grow the right varieties.

If you're thinking about planting honeysuckle, plant a non-invasive, native honeysuckle vine and steer clear of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and other invasive species. Don't assume your local garden center or nursery will know the difference. Check with your local extension office before planting to make sure the species you're considering is non-invasive.

Tip: Penn State University Extension advises that native species (the good guys) are stout, erect, solid-stemmed plants that grow in dry or rocky ground. They produce yellow flowers.

Non-native honeysuckles, which generally have hollow stems, prefer moister soil. Invasive honeysuckle plants leaf out a couple of weeks ahead of native honeysuckles and hold their foliage later into autumn.

The addition of brightly colored flowers and foliage to flower beds and garden landscapes is of great importance to many gardeners. Specifically designed plantings made to attract pollinators are not only beneficial to wildlife, but beautiful to look at as well. Flower gardens filled with fluorescent orange and red-flowering plants are a welcome sight to hummingbirds and butterflies alike. One such vibrant plant, Mexican honeysuckle bush (Justicia spicigera), is a popular choice made by home gardeners for this reason.

Mexican Honeysuckle in Gardens

Though not related to other “honeysuckle” plants, it is quite easy to see how the visual similarities among Mexican honeysuckle might explain its namesake. Boasting beautiful orange to reddish flowers, Mexican honeysuckle bush will thrive in gardens located in USDA growing zone 9-11. While the plant may behave as a perennial in some climates, warmer regions will see growth patterns similar to that of evergreen shrubs. Unfortunately, for those without frost free climates, the plants will not survive frost or cold temperatures. At maturity, the shrubs may reach average sizes of 4-6 feet. (1-2 m.), making these plants ideal for use in landscapes in hot, drought-prone locations where shade cast by their presence is a blessing.

Mexican Honeysuckle Care

As evidenced by its tolerance to a wide variety of soil and growing conditions, Mexican honeysuckle plants are an excellent choice for carefree wildlife landscapes. When planting, choose a location that receives direct sunlight, though the plants will tolerate some shade. For best results, water evenly and consistently throughout the season, as a means to promote prolonged bloom time. Due to its ease of care, many growers may be left to wonder, ‘Is Mexican honeysuckle invasive?’ This answer may vary greatly depending upon where you live, as there has been evidence that the plant may become invasive in certain conditions. To specifically answer that question, it is important that gardeners first contact their local agricultural extension office. Local agriculture agents can provide detailed and specific information regarding plant culture where you live. Proper research and attention to detail is an important step to preserving native landscapes and habitats.

As the name would suggest, Himalayan honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa) is native to Asia. Is Himalayan honeysuckle invasive in non-native regions? It has been reported as a noxious weed in New Zealand and Australia but doesn't pose a problem in most regions. You can control it easily, as with most exotic flowering plants, by removing spent flowers before they form seed. Other than that potential issue, Himalayan honeysuckle care is straightforward and relatively simple.

What is Himalayan Honeysuckle?

Himalayan honeysuckle plants develop a truly unique looking flower. It is a carefree blooming plant that is attractive to butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds. The blooms are followed by tiny purple berries that are edible and said to taste like toffee or caramel. Himalayan honeysuckle plants are native to the forest land of the Himalayas and southwestern China. It develops into a multi-stemmed bush with hollow branches. The bush can grow 6 feet (1.8 m.) tall with a similar spread and is adorned with large heart-shaped leaves. The real attraction are the flowers. Bell-shaped white flowers descend from brilliant scarlet bracts, lending the flowers an exotic appearance. Flowers are evident from June up until September. Plants are not hardy and will experience die-back in fall but will sprout new stems and leaves in springtime rain and warmth.

Growing Himalayan Honeysuckles

This foreign beauty is hardy to United States Department of Agriculture zones 7-10. If the root zone is protected, new growth will return. In warm regions, the plants will not drop leaves or die back and benefit from pruning in winter to make the plant more compact. Flowers appear on new growth so heavy pruning will not affect blooms. Himalayan honeysuckle prefers moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Space plants 2 to 3 feet (.61 to .91 m.) apart in mass plantings. If you wish to start new plants, sow seeds in a cold frame in fall in warm regions or start indoors in flats 6 weeks before the date of the last frost in northern gardens. The plants can also be grown by cuttings or division.

Himalayan Honeysuckle Care

In hotter regions, situate the plant where it will receive afternoon sun. Keep the surface of the soil moist but avoid watering to the point that soil is boggy. Feed the plant monthly during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Although it may seem extreme, cut plants back to 6 inches (15 cm.) from the ground. New shoots will form and the plant will achieve its previous height by the end of the next growing season. To prevent self-seeding, remove flower heads before they seed or in cooler regions where this is not a problem, leave them and watch the birds go nuts for the fruit.

Coral honeysuckle is a beautiful, less-than-fragrant, flowering vine native to the United States. It provides a great cover for trellises and fences that is the perfect alternative to its invasive, foreign cousins. Keep reading to learn more coral honeysuckle info, including coral honeysuckle care and how to grow coral honeysuckle plants.

Coral Honeysuckle Info

What is coral honeysuckle? Depending upon whom you ask, coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is hardy in everything from USDA zone 4 through 11. This means it can survive virtually anywhere in the continental United States. Coral honeysuckle is a twining vine that can reach 15 to 25 feet (4.5-7.5 m.) in length. It produces attractive and fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers that grow in clusters. These flowers are 1 to 2 inches (2.5-5 cm.) long and come in shades of red, yellow, and coral pink. They are especially attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. In the fall, these flowers give way to small red berries that will attract songbirds.

Is Coral Honeysuckle Invasive?

Honeysuckle gets a bad rap, and rightly so! Japanese honeysuckle is an especially invasive species in North America that is often planted without knowledge of how harmful it can be to local ecosystems. While that species should be avoided in the United States, coral honeysuckle is a native plant that has a place in the carefully balanced ecosystem. It is a good alternative to its dangerously invasive cousin.

Coral Honeysuckle Care

Growing coral honeysuckle vines is not difficult. The plant can grow in full sun to partial shade. Once established, it is very tolerant of both heat and drought. In very warm climates, the leaves are evergreen. In places with colder winters, the leaves will drop or some growth will die back. Coral honeysuckle will grow as a vine up trellises or along fences, but it can also be used effectively as a creeping groundcover.

Propagating honeysuckle can be done in several ways. To expand the reach of this pretty, shade-creating vine in your garden, follow these tips and guidelines.

Why Honeysuckle Propagation?

There are types of honeysuckle vines that are invasive and, in some regions, grow out of control, creating a real problem. If you have ever battled this fast-moving vine, you might wonder why anyone would want to propagate it. The non-invasive honeysuckle is a desirable garden plant for pretty flowers, a lovely scent, and for creating shade as it climbs trellises, walls, and other structures. Although honeysuckle grows quickly, you may want to propagate in your garden to give it a boost and to let it reach more spaces or create more shade.

How to Propagate Honeysuckles

There are several ways to propagate this vine, from using honeysuckle seeds to cuttings, and a strategy called layering. Choose your technique based on time, resources, and where you want your new vines to grow: Layering. Layering is a good option if you simply want to branch out from your existing honeysuckle vines. Take a vine and bend it toward the ground. Where the vine touches the ground, scratch the side facing the earth with a knife. Bury that part of the vine in a hole in the ground that you have dug and to which you have added potting soil. A new root will grow in that spot. It’s best to do layering in the spring. Cuttings. Taking honeysuckle cuttings to replant is another way you can propagate a vine. Make cuttings early in the morning when there is plenty of sap in the vine, and it is best to do it in late spring or early summer. Cut off about 6 inches (15 cm.) from the end of a two year old vine. Cut it carefully on an angle and avoid crushing the vine. Remove the lower sets of leaves and plant the cutting in potting soil. Within a few weeks, the roots should be long enough to replant. Seeds. You can also propagate honeysuckle by seed, either saving seeds from your own vine or buying them. The seeds need to be cold to germinate, so you can sow them in the fall or start them indoors, mixing seeds and compost together and refrigerating for about 12 weeks. For both cuttings and propagating honeysuckle by layering, you can use rooting hormone to stimulate new root growth. Find the powder at your local nursery and dip the layering vine or new cutting in it before planting in soil.

Few things smell better than fragrant honeysuckle blossoms. Even the most attractive plants must be moved around in the garden sometimes. Whether you have a vine or a shrub, transplanting honeysuckles isn’t too hard, as long as you know what you are doing. If you are planning on transplanting bush honeysuckle or moving a honeysuckle vine in the near future, you’ll find tips in this article that will assist you.

When Can You Transplant Honeysuckle?

Can you transplant honeysuckle vines and bushes? Yes, you can. Just be sure you act at the right time. Despite its vining habit, honeysuckle is a woody shrub. In cool to moderate climates, it’s a deciduous plant that goes dormant in autumn. This is an ideal time to transplant. If you happen to live in a very warm climate where honeysuckles don’t go dormant, you have more choice in timing. Transplanting honeysuckles is possible at almost any time of the year, although you’ll do well to exclude periods of extreme summer heat.

How to Transplant a Honeysuckle Plant

If you are planning on transplanting bush honeysuckle or moving honeysuckle vines, you’ll want to plan ahead so that you can root prune the plant. Do this in spring by tracing a large circle on the surface of the soil around the root ball, then cutting down along that circle with a sharp spade. Root pruning is an important part of transplanting honeysuckles because it severs the longest roots. The new, shorter roots can be transplanted with the root ball. If you are moving a honeysuckle vine, cut it back by about one-third at the same time you root prune. If you are transplanting bush honeysuckle, a good trim of about one-third of the plant helps it avoid transplant shock.

Transplanting Honeysuckles

The next step in transplanting honeysuckles is to dig a new hole. Choose your location well, taking into account the needs of the species you have, and dig out a hole quite a bit larger than the root ball. Mix compost into the native soil. Then return to the plant. Use a shovel or spade to reopen and expand the circle around the root ball until you can wedge a shovel under it. Carefully lift out the root ball and set it on a tarp for easier transport. Move it to the new location. Fill the hole with water and let it drain before putting the honeysuckle root ball into it. Use the extracted soil mixed with compost to fill in around it, then water slowly until water stands on the surface of the soil. Repeat the watering several times a week.

The winter honeysuckle bush (Lonicera fragrantissima) was introduced from China in the mid nineteenth century, and its delightfully fragrant flowers soon became a favorite with gardeners and landscapers. You can still find unattended stands thriving at crumbling old homesteads and graveyards. Learn more about winter flowering honeysuckle plants in this article.

Winter Honeysuckle Propagation

Winter honeysuckle is easy to propagate from seeds or cuttings. Purchase seeds or remove them from ripe berries. Softwood cuttings root well in plain water. Cut the tips of new growth under the second pair of leaves and follow these easy steps:

• Nip out the flower head from the top of the stem and remove the pair of leaves from the bottom of the cutting. New roots will grow from the nodes where these leaves were once attached.
• Place the stem in a glass of water deep enough to cover the nodes, but not the leaves at the top.
• Change the water every two or three days. In three weeks, you should have enough roots to pot up your new honeysuckle.
• Fill a large pot with potting soil and pot up your cuttings. Leave them growing in the bucket until planting time, which is late winter or early spring.

The small, creamy white flowers of the winter honeysuckle bush aren’t outstanding to look at, but what they lack in beauty they make up for in fragrance. The shrub also has a nice shape, and you can use it as a specimen planting, on a trellis, in a shrub border, or as a hedge. The flowers provide winter bees with nectar, and the berries are popular with birds.

Care of Winter Honeysuckle

It’s hard to imagine a landscape plant easier to care for than winter honeysuckle. Give it full sun or partial shade and soil that is not too soggy, and it will thrive. The plants grow 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.) tall and just as wide, but you can keep them smaller with aggressive pruning. The best time to prune is right after flowering. Enjoy the rich fragrance of winter honeysuckle indoors by forcing cut stems into bloom. Cut them when the buds have swollen and place them in a vase of water. Winter honeysuckle makes an attractive backdrop for more colorful flowers. Growing winter honeysuckle shrubs is an easy way to fill your garden with early season flowers and fragrance, but the honeysuckle plants are considered highly invasive in some areas. Birds and small mammals eat the berries from the shrub and carry the seeds they contain to other locations, where they may germinate and quickly overrun native species. It’s best to check with your local Cooperative Extension Agent to make sure they aren’t likely to create a problem in your area. They can also suggest alternative plants that grow well locally.

The bush honeysuckle shrub (Diervilla lonicera) has yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers that look very much like honeysuckle blossoms. This American native is very cold hardy and undemanding, making bush honeysuckle care a snap. Read on to learn about growing Diervilla honeysuckles and other Diervilla shrub information.

Diervilla Shrub Information

You can see bush honeysuckle shrubs growing wild in the Eastern part of the United States. They grow to 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall and 5 feet (1.5 m.) wide. These plants provide year-round interest in a garden. The leaves emerge dark red, then turn deep green, developing bronze tones. The yellow flowers are small and without fragrance, but clustered and very attractive. They open in June and the shrubs produce them through September. The honeysuckle-like blossoms turn red and orange as they age. Butterflies, moths and hummingbirds come to sip the nectar. Diervilla shrub information affirms that the leaves of the bush honeysuckle shrub can provide exciting autumn displays. They can explode into yellow, orange, red, or purple.

Growing Diervilla Honeysuckles

If you are thinking about growing Diervilla honeysuckles, you’re in for a treat. These are low-maintenance plants that do not require coddling and bush honeysuckle care is minimal. These shrubs grow best in areas with cool summers. These include regions within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. When it is time to plant bush honeysuckles, choose a site that gets direct sun or at least partial sun. They accept most types of soil types as long as it is well draining. Drought resistant, the plants still appreciate an occasional drink. When you start growing Diervilla honeysuckles in your backyard, they may not get as big as those in the wild. You can expect the shrubs to get to 3 feet (.9 m.) high with a similar width.

Is Bush Honeysuckle Invasive?

Diervilla shrubs are suckering plants, so it makes sense to ask “Is bush honeysuckle invasive?” The fact is, according to Diervilla shrub information, the native type of bush honeysuckle is not invasive. However, a look-alike plant, Asian bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) is invasive. It shades out native plants in many parts of the country when it escapes cultivation.

Native honeysuckles are climbing vines covered with beautiful, sweetly scented flowers in spring. Their close cousins, Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), are invasive weeds that can take over your garden and damage the environment. Learn how to distinguish native honeysuckle from the exotic species and techniques for honeysuckle weed control in this article.

Japanese Honeysuckle Weed Info

Japanese honeysuckle was introduced in the U.S. as a ground cover in 1806. Birds loved them and spread the vines by eating the seeds and transporting them to other areas. By the early 1900's, it was clear that the vine could spread rampantly in both open fields and forests, crowding and shading out native species. Freezing winter temperatures keep the vines in check in cold, northern climates, but in southern and Midwestern states, managing honeysuckle weeds is a never-ending problem. Japanese honeysuckle weed is somewhat easy to differentiate from native species. For example, most native honeysuckles are fused at the stem so that they form one leaf. Leaves are normally a medium green on the upper portion with a bluish green hue on the underside. Japanese honeysuckle leaves are separate, growing opposite from each other on the stem and are dark green all over. Additionally, the stems of native species are solid, while Japanese honeysuckles have hollow stems. The berry color is different too, with Japanese honeysuckle having purplish black berries and most other honeysuckle types having berries that are reddish orange.

Is Honeysuckle a Weed?

In many cases, whether or not a plant is a weed is in the eye of the beholder, but Japanese honeysuckle is always considered a weed, especially in mild climates. In Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, Japanese honeysuckle is considered a noxious weed. It is one of the top ten invasive plants in Georgia and a category 1 invasive plant in Florida. In Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina it is listed as a severe invasive threat. Based on plant surveys, these labels come with restrictions that make it illegal to import or sell the plant or its seeds. Where it is legal, it is still best to avoid it. In the garden Japanese honeysuckle can overrun your plants, lawns, trees, fences, and anything else in its path.

How to Control Honeysuckle

If you only have a few vines, cut them off at ground level in late summer and spot treat the cut ends with undiluted glyphosate concentrate. The undiluted concentrate is usually 41 or 53.8 percent glyphosate. The label should state the percentage to be used. If you have a large stand of honeysuckle, mow or weed whack the vines as close to the ground as possible. Allow them to re-sprout, then spray the sprouts with a 5 percent solution of glyphosate. You can make the solution by mixing 4 ounces of concentrate in 1 gallon of water. Spray carefully on a calm day because the spray will kill any plant it touches. While time consuming, digging up or hand-pulling the vines is the best option for those wishing to avoid the use of chemical control. Chemicals should only be used as a last resort, as organic approaches are much more environmentally friendly.

Honeysuckle is a bit of a mixed bag. Pollinators love it, especially hummingbirds, and it smells absolutely heavenly. But it's also a vigorous grower, and the non-native Asian ones are downright invasive.

It's best to stick to native varieties and not plant Asian honeysuckle at all. But if you're looking to prune any variety, whether to keep it in check or just gently train it, you'll need to know how. Let's dive into this important aspect of growing honeysuckle vines.

Do You Need to Prune Honeysuckle?

If you don’t want a sweet-smelling, not-so-hostile takeover by the vine, yes, you should definitely prune honeysuckle back each year. A previous home of mine had two honeysuckle vines that hadn’t seen the glint of pruning shears when we purchased the house. They had taken over a sunny corner of the garden and had to be drastically pruned.

When to Prune Honeysuckle

There are two kinds of honeysuckle vines: those that bloom in the spring and those that bloom in the summer. Spring bloomers should be pruned just after flowers have faded. They can be cut back generously without it affecting next year's flowers.

Summer bloomers are a little trickier, because they bloom on the current season's growth. They should be trimmed sparingly in spring, so as not to lose too many flower buds.

If your honeysuckle is overgrown and in need of some serious renovation pruning, do it in late winter when the plant is still dormant. You can cut it down to just two feet (60 cm) above the ground. It will spring back with vigorous new growth in the spring.

No matter when you're pruning, this set of Felco F6 Pruning Shears (Amazon) would be perfect for the job.

How to Prune Honeysuckle

How to tackle pruning your honeysuckle depends on what shape it's in. If the plant is overgrown, plan to prune it in the early winter. Aggressive pruning in the winter will increase flowering in successive years, though it may not bloom that first year. Avoid severely pruning more than once every 2-3 winters, which can kill the plant.

The honeysuckle mentioned above was so overgrown, I was brutal and cut the vines to within a foot (30 cm) of the soil, though 2 feet (61 cm) might have been safer. You will need sharp loppers (like these Fiskars 32in PowerGear 2 loppers on Amazon) and likely a hand saw (like this Corona 13in RazorTOOTH Pruning saw on Amazon). This is an excellent way to rejuvenate honeysuckle that’s become tangled and overly compact yet bare at the base.

The better goal is maintenance pruning. Prune lightly to maintain the shape of the vine and to remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches. Remove branches from crowded areas to open the plant up to more light and air.

Cutting backside shoots will encourage spurs of 2-3 buds, maximizing flowering.

Unless you're cutting back severely, do not remove more than a third of the vine. Use disinfected shears to prevent the spreading of disease or pests.

Frequently Asked Questions

For many people, the intoxicating fragrance of honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) conjures up memories of pinching off the base of a flower and squeezing a single drop of sweet nectar onto the tongue. In fall, the flowers are replaced by bright-colored berries that draw cardinals and catbirds to the garden. You'll find many honeysuckle varieties to choose from, with long-lasting flowers that bloom in shades of yellow, pink, peach, red and creamy white.

Different Kinds of Honeysuckles

The different types of honeysuckle include both shrubs and climbing vines. The vines climb by twining themselves around their supporting structure, and can't cling to solid walls. Most need spring pruning to keep them from growing out of control and becoming a tangled mass of vines. They regrow quickly, so don't be afraid to give them a severe cut.

Honeysuckle Vines

Trumpet honeysuckle (L. sempervirens) and Japanese honeysuckle (L. japonica) are two of the most ornamental of the honeysuckle vines. Both grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, but trumpet honeysuckle grows best in the Southeast, while Japanese honeysuckle thrives in the Midwest. Both vines have escaped cultivation and are considered invasive in some areas. Trumpet honeysuckle blooms in spring in shades of red and pink. Japanese honeysuckle produces pink or red blossoms from summer through early autumn. You can train both species to a trellis, or let it ramble as a ground cover. Mow vines used as ground cover with the blades set as high as they will go in late winter to get rid of the dead undergrowth and control the spread.

Honeysuckle Shrubs

When it comes to honeysuckle shrubs, winter honeysuckle (L. fragrantissima) -- grown in USDA zones 4 through 8 -- is an excellent choice for informal hedges or screens. It also makes a nice potted plant for areas where you will enjoy the lemony fragrance most. The first, creamy-white blossoms open in late winter or early spring and the bloom season continues for a long time. Sakhalin honeysuckle (L. maximowiczii var. sachalinensis) -- USDA zones 3 through 6 -- grows into shrubs similar in appearance and habit to winter honeysuckle, but the flowers are deep red. Some people find the fragrance of honeysuckle too strong for more than a brief exposure, and for them, there is freedom honeysuckle (L. korolkowii ‘Freedom'). Freedom produces unscented, white blossoms with a blush of pink. Despite their lack of fragrance, they still attract bees and birds to the garden.

Everyone recognizes the lovely fragrance of a honeysuckle plant and the sweet taste of its nectar. Honeysuckles are heat-tolerant and wildly attractive in any garden. A honeysuckle plant is a great addition to any landscape and will draw abundant wildlife with its sweet, yellow to bright-red blossoms.

Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) belong to a large family that consists of hardy shrubs and vines that grow in almost every state in America. There are over 180 different varieties of honeysuckle. Some are deciduous and some, in warmer regions, are evergreen. Because of their versatility and abundance, growing and caring for honeysuckle vines is easy.

How to Grow a Honeysuckle Vine

While honeysuckles prefer full sun, they will tolerate some shade. The honeysuckle plant is also tolerant of different soil types, though it helps to grow the vine in well-draining soil amended with organic matter.

Honeysuckles can be grown as ground cover in suitable areas but most do best with some type of support, either along a fence or on a trellis. They can also be grown in containers.

• Using a Fence or Trellis - Honeysuckles take well to a sturdy fence, post, or trellis and will gladly cover even a very large trellis in a short amount of time. As the plant matures, it has a tendency to shade the lower portion of the vine, which causes the bottom to become woody and unattractive. Therefore, you should thin out the top half of the vine during the dormant season to keep it healthy. If you wish, allow your honeysuckle vine to cover an arbor. This is a great way to provide a shady spot in a sunny landscape.
  
• Containers - Many varieties of honeysuckle perform well in containers as long as they receive regular water and an application of 10-10-10 plant food at the beginning of the growing season. Provide a trellis for your container vine or allow it to hang in a basket. Opt for a large container that'll provide sufficient space and support for the honeysuckle to grow, like this 14.75in Pure Garden Lattice Design Planter Box from Amazon.

Caring for Honeysuckle Vines

Other than occasional watering, honeysuckle vine care is not difficult; however, pruning is a good practice. Vine species of honeysuckle can become invasive as a ground cover, if not controlled, and require clipping to tame. Therefore, regular shearing and shaping, with pruners like the Felco F6 Pruning Shears from Amazon, will keep this beauty within its boundaries. 

Pruning honeysuckle vine is generally done in the fall or winter when the honeysuckle plant is dormant. If your honeysuckle vine has been left untamed, don't worry about giving it a good heavy prune. 

The vine will pop back up again in the spring. If you wish to use honeysuckle vines for erosion control, you will not need to prune them.

With annual pruning, honeysuckle vine care is not a problem. The plant will happily return each year, providing an abundance of blooms and sweet nectar for both you and wildlife.