Lonicera henryi
Evergreen honeysuckle
Common names: Evergreen honeysuckle shrub
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Hardiness
- Hardy
- Pruning
- Mar–Apr
- Flowering
- Jun–Aug
Photo: M.S. del., J.N.Fitch lith · Public Domain · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The evergreen honeysuckle is a vigorous climber that ascends fences, pergolas, and trellises with its shoots, retaining green foliage even in winter. From June to August, yellowish‑red flower clusters appear, reliably attracting bees and bumblebees; in autumn, dark berries follow, serving as food for birds. The berries are mildly toxic to humans and should not be consumed; keep small children away from the fruit. Originating from China, the species has proven itself in gardens as a robust, low‑maintenance screen. It tolerates both sunny and partially shaded sites and grows dense and impenetrable there.
Care instructions
Plant the honeysuckle best in spring or autumn onto a sturdy trellis so it has support from the start. A well‑drained, moderately moist soil with a bit of compost at planting is sufficient as a starting point; especially in the first year, water regularly, then the plant will thrive with rainfall. Prune in late winter, around the end of February (week 8‑9), to keep the vine compact and promote dense, bushy new growth. Mulch around the root zone protects in winter and keeps the soil evenly moist.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Garden year
FloweringJun–Aug
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
well-drained, humus-rich, moist, nutrient-rich
Henry's honeysuckle likes humus-rich, free-draining garden soil that never dries out completely. A spot with cool, slightly shaded roots and a sunnier head suits it especially well, as you may know from many climbers. It tolerates waterlogging poorly, while a layer of mulch keeps the soil pleasantly evenly moist.
Feeding
Medium feeder
Months
Mar, May
One application of ripe compost in early spring is entirely sufficient for most sites. If you have sandy soil, add a little rotted manure or horn shavings once more at the end of May. Do not feed right at the root collar, but in the root area all around.
Pruning
A thinning cut in early spring keeps the honeysuckle compact and lets air into the dense foliage. Mainly cut out shoots that grow too densely and older, bare shoots, so that fresh green growth comes again from below. The plant does not absolutely need regular pruning, but it also tolerates a harder cutback well.
Overwintering
As an evergreen climber, the honeysuckle needs no winter protection for its leaves, but a trellis on a wall sheltered from the wind helps it get through hard frosts unharmed. In very cold sites or with young plants, a layer of mulch over the root area is worthwhile. In very exposed spots it may lose some leaves in winter, but it reliably sprouts again in spring.
Propagation
Methods
- Cuttings
- Layering
Propagation is easiest with semi-hardwood cuttings from half-ripe shoots in late summer, which you root in free-draining seed compost. Layering also works well: simply press a long shoot into the soil and weigh it down with a stone until it has formed its own roots after a few months. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet. Sowing is possible, but with this species it takes much longer to reach the first flowering.
For your garden
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