Honeysuckle Vine – Creepers with Attractive Foliage and Fragrant Flowers

Honeysuckle is a twining vine and is a native plant of Northern Hemisphere. These creepers have attractive foliage and fragrant flowers. The oval leaves of honeysuckle are ten centimeters in length and arranged in opposite direction. Many species of the vine have sweet smelling flowers of bell shape.

Honeysuckle Vine – Preparation of Soil and Tips for Planting

Flowers of honeysuckle produce nectar that is sweet and edible. Honeysuckle fruit is a berry that can be red, blue or black in color. The berry contains many seeds, some of which are edible and some poisonous. You should plant honeysuckle vine in a partially sunny area in the garden. Use a well-draining garden soil with compost added to it. Provide good ventilation for the prevention of mildews. Use a structure for supporting it. The vine blooms in spring and summer, adding color to the garden. The best time for planting honeysuckle vine is in spring season when there is no frost. Spacing between two plants should be three feet. Add mulch to the plant and prune lightly.

Wild Honeysuckle – The Noxious Weed

The Japanese honeysuckle, also known as wild honeysuckle, is a noxious weed with a rapid growth. It displaces other plants and there is difficulty in managing it in the wild areas. The plant is a woody shrub that is tall and dense. Flowers of the vine have an opening with a double tongue that is white and light yellow in color. Fruit of this plant is a seeded and globose berry that is dark blue in color. Wild honeysuckle is a good groundcover. Its flowers have a pleasant and strong smell. If you wish to cultivate the vine, you can do so by using seeds and cutting. Layering and shoots can also used for growing the vine.

Cape Honeysuckle – Scrambling Shrub

Another variety of the honeysuckle vine is Tecoma capensis, also called cape honeysuckle. The scrambling evergreen shrub is a native plant of Africa. It has a height and width of three meters. In cold climate, the plant loses its leaves. In some areas, honeysuckle scrambles, giving out long tips that lean on other plants. It grows on support structures like trellis and fences. Cape honeysuckle is a good hedge and it propagates from cuttings and rooted suckers. A sunny and semi-shaded area is suitable for planting the vine. For new growth, prune the plant in late winters. The plant gives flowers the whole year. The flowers are red, orange and yellow in color.

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