Lonicera

The genus Honeysuckle (Lonicera) includes more than 200 species-deciduous or erect, creeping or climbing shrubs and lianas, less often small trees. The leaves are simple, whole, rarely lobed. The flowers are white, yellow, pink, red, collected in inflorescences. These are insect-pollinated species, the fruit is a juicy berry. The most famous species is sweet honeysuckle, or caprifolium (Lonicera caprifolium), a climbing ornamental and medicinal deciduous plant, used as a liana for vertical gardening. It has very fragrant white-cream flowers with a pink tint in 3-10-flowered whorls at the ends of the shoots, they bloom in May (flowers bloom at dusk). Etruscan honeysuckle (L. etrusca) is also a climbing species, evergreen or deciduous, characterized by red shoots. Yellow with a red tint fragrant flowers, bloom from May to July. Evergreen honeysuckle (L. sempervirens ) is a delicate climbing evergreen or semi-evergreen (depending on climatic conditions, it can shed or retain its foliage) species with flowers that are red on the outside and yellow-orange on the inside. They bloom from June to August. Tatar honeysuckle (L. tatarica) is an erect shrub with a height of 1 to 6 m. It is widely distributed in culture due to its drought and frost resistance. It is extremely decorated with pink or red flowers and bright red fruits. Common honeysuckle, or wolfberry (L. xylosteum), is a shrub 1-3 m tall that grows naturally in the undergrowth, along the edges, along rivers and ravines. Hybrid Brown's honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownie) is a climbing semi-evergreen plant with ovate-oblong leaves. Inflorescences of bright red flowers bloom from June to September. Dropmore Scarlet has red flowers on the outside and yellow flowers on the inside.

The genus Honeysuckle (Lonicera) includes more than 200 species-deciduous or erect, creeping or climbing shrubs and lianas, less often small trees. The leaves are simple, whole, rarely lobed. The flowers are white, yellow, pink, red, collected in inflorescences. These are insect-pollinated species, the fruit is a juicy berry.

The most famous species is sweet honeysuckle, or caprifolium (Lonicera caprifolium), a climbing ornamental and medicinal deciduous plant, used as a liana for vertical gardening. It has very fragrant white-cream flowers with a pink tint in 3-10-flowered whorls at the ends of the shoots, they bloom in May (flowers bloom at dusk).

Etruscan honeysuckle (L. etrusca) is also a climbing species, evergreen or deciduous, characterized by red shoots. Yellow with a red tint fragrant flowers, bloom from May to July.

Evergreen honeysuckle (L. sempervirens ) is a delicate climbing evergreen or semi-evergreen (depending on climatic conditions, it can shed or retain its foliage) species with flowers that are red on the outside and yellow-orange on the inside. They bloom from June to August.

Tatar honeysuckle (L. tatarica) is an erect shrub with a height of 1 to 6 m. It is widely distributed in culture due to its drought and frost resistance. It is extremely decorated with pink or red flowers and bright red fruits.

Common honeysuckle, or wolfberry (L. xylosteum), is a shrub 1-3 m tall that grows naturally in the undergrowth, along the edges, along rivers and ravines.

Hybrid Brown's honeysuckle (Lonicera x brownie) is a climbing semi-evergreen plant with ovate-oblong leaves. Inflorescences of bright red flowers bloom from June to September. Dropmore Scarlet has red flowers on the outside and yellow flowers on the inside.

Cultivation

Honeysuckle is an open-ground plant, widely used in landscaping; it can be grown in pots. It is also often used to create hedges. Evergreen climbing species are planted permanently in April-May, deciduous (climbing and shrubby) - in October or March. They prefer loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Potted cultivation uses a mixture of earth, peat (or compost), and a small amount of sand (to improve drainage). Pruning is carried out depending on the time of flowering: early-flowering species - at the end late-blooming blooms - in late winter, and the latter are pruned slightly, because significant pruning will limit subsequent flowering. Trim hedges to shape them in spring and late summer.

Location

Light-loving, you need open sun or partial shade. For climbing species, the best location is semi-shaded, and the crown is in the open sun.

Temperature

Most species tolerate temperature fluctuations well and adapt to both high and low temperatures. The exceptions are Etruscan honeysuckle and evergreen honeysuckle.

Watering

They grow on dry soils, water only young plants (immediately after planting in the ground) or during a prolonged drought.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, when the roots are no longer placed in the same container. Types of honeysuckle tolerate transplanting well.

Reproduction

They are propagated by seeds, layers, and cuttings in culture. Cuttings 10 cm long are cut in July-August, planted in a mixture of peat and sand and left to winter in a closed, unheated room. Climbing species can be planted immediately in a permanent place in the coming season, and shrubs are transplanted into pots one at a time, and then transferred to spacious containers and finally planted next year. They can also be propagated in layers, using long whips, which are dug in late summer and early autumn, making an incision on them. After rooting (usually the next year), they are separated from the parent plant. Climbing species are propagated by seeds that are sown in September-October. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted first in cups, and then in pots until the next autumn, when they are planted in a permanent place.

They are propagated by seeds, layers, and cuttings in culture. Cuttings 10 cm long are cut in July-August, planted in a mixture of peat and sand and left to winter in a closed, unheated room. Climbing species can be planted immediately in a permanent place in the coming season, and shrubs are transplanted into pots one at a time, and then transferred to spacious containers and finally planted next year.

They can also be propagated in layers, using long whips, which are dug in late summer and early autumn, making an incision on them. After rooting (usually the next year), they are separated from the parent plant. Climbing species are propagated by seeds that are sown in September-October. As soon as the seedlings grow up, they are transplanted first in cups, and then in pots until the next autumn, when they are planted in a permanent place.

Diseases

For honeysuckle, aphids and cochineal are most dangerous. Aphids gnaw young shoots and leaves. To kill aphids, insecticides are used, spraying the lower part of the leaves if possible. Cochineal is much more difficult to deal with, and insecticides based on petroleum oils are used. Powdery mildew affects the shoots, covering them with whitish dust. An effective remedy is a sulfur-containing fungicide.

Acquisition

Many types of honeysuckle are easily found in gardening centers and specialized nurseries. Choose developed plants.