Tools and Materials
Tools
Honeysuckle Seeds or Seedlings
- Pruning Shears
- Fence OR
- Trellis OR
- Arbor
Materials
Key Takeaways
- Honeysuckle is a fast-growing flowering vine or shrub known for its fragrant, tube-shaped flowers that attract pollinators like hummingbirds and bees.
- Popular and beginner-friendly varieties include Coral Honeysuckle, Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle and Major Wheeler Honeysuckle.
- Plant honeysuckle in well-drained soil with at least six hours of sunlight and provide support such as a fence or trellis for climbing varieties.
- Keep young plants evenly moist and add mulch around the base to help retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
- Prune honeysuckle after flowering to control growth and encourage healthy blooms the following season.
Types of Honeysuckle
Honeysuckles are popular garden plants because they’re fragrant, fast-growing, and attractive to pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. There are about 180 species of honeysuckle, giving gardners plenty of excellent choices. They fall into two main groups: vining honeysuckles (climbers) and shrub honeysuckles (bushes).
Popular and Easy-to-Maintain Honeysuckle Varieties
Common Honeysuckle: The common honeysuckle vine bears highly fragrant white, yellow and orange-tinged flowers from mid to late summer. It climbs about 25 feet high and has red fruit.
Coral Honeysuckle: Native to the eastern U.S., this honeysuckle is low-maintenance, handles heat and humidity well and is resistant to pests and diseases. It’s a great honeysuckle for beginners to grow.
Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle: This variety bears slightly fragrant crimson-red flowers all summer. It grows about 12 feet high and is a hardy hybrid honeysuckle that performs well in many climates. This is another type of honeysuckle that’s suitable for beginners to grow.
Major Wheeler Honeysuckle: This honeysuckle is known for its intense red and orange tubular flowers and, once established, it’s drought-tolerant. It blooms from late spring through fall and is a favorite flower for hummingbirds to visit.
How to Grow Honeysuckle
As the honeysuckle plant grows, it will need external support, such as a fence, trellis or arbor. Ensure that this support is in place before planting the honeysuckle to avoid damaging the roots later.
Step 1: Planting Honeysuckle
Remove the honeysuckle from the nursery plant. Dig a hole that's as deep as the pot and twice as wide as the pot. Place the plant into the hole.
Step 2: Amending the Soil
When planting the vine, amend the soil with compost or other organic matter instead of adding fertilizer, as too much fertilizer increases foliage and decreases flower production. A general-purpose fertilizer can be added when the plant is mature.
Backfill with the amended soil as needed and gently press down on the soil to even out the surface.
Always wear protective gear, including nitrile gloves, resiprator and safety goggles when handling fertilizer.
Step 3: Water Thoroughly
Keep young plants consistently moist. Water the plant weekly and add a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around the base. Honeysuckle thrives in moist, well-drained soil. The soil must be kept evenly moist during the first year of planting. After that, rainfall and weekly irrigation with about one inch of water during dry spells are sufficient.
Step 4: Ensure Optimal Sunlight
Most honeysuckle varieties need the full sun on their leaves but less at the roots. Mulch the roots and plant the vine in a spot with at least six hours of sunlight. In hot regions, ensure some afternoon shade.
Step 5: Pruning
The best time to prune honeysuckle is right after the flowers drop. The lighter the pruning, the more flowers you'll have next spring. Honeysuckle blooms on old or new wood, with some varieties, like the Major Wheeler, blooming on both. Types like the Common Honeysuckle, which flower on old wood, should be pruned in summer after the bloom period ends, while types that bloom on new wood, like the Trumpet Honeysuckle, should be pruned in late winter. Use pruning shears to correctly and effectively trim the plant.
How to Grow Honeysuckle from Seeds
Plant the honeysuckle seeds about 1/4 inch deep in a pot that contains loamy soil (an ideal and well-balanced mix of sand, silt and clay). Place the pot in a location that receives warm, indirect sunlight. Germination can take from two to six weeks. Once true leaves — the leaves that appear after the first set of seed leaves and resemble the shape of the mature plant — appear and the seedlings are sturdy enough, you can transfer them to individual pots and grow them out.
How Big Do Honeysuckles Get?
Honeysuckles vary in size based on the species. Some climbing vines can grow up to 25 feet or more. Honeysuckles are generally fast-growing plants, with some vigorous vines capable of growing several feet in a single season.
Common Pests and Problems with Honeysuckle
The honeysuckle vine is relatively free of problems and pests that trouble other flowering vines, but there are a few signs your honeysuckle may have a pest problem. Look out for aphids and spider mites that leave behind a sugary substance and feed on honeysuckle vines. Use a horticultural spray to identify and treat these pests and prevent infestation.
Powdery mildew is a common fungal infection that develops in humid conditions with poor air circulation. To prevent the spread of powdery mildew, relocate the plants to a better-draining part of the garden.
Growing Non-Invasive Honeysuckle
Learning how to grow non-invasive honeysuckle is easy and requires little effort. It’s a rewarding experience that adds beauty and fragrance to your garden. With proper care and optimal conditions, most varieties can live for more than 20 years. When you’re ready to get your hands dirty, Lowe’s is here for you.
From soil amendments to pruning shears, Lowe’s can help you whether you need to quickly create privacy screens on fences or trellises or when you want to attract pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds or bees. Stop by your local Lowe's today and a Lowe’s Red Vest associate can help you with all your gardening needs.
Upper L to R: Goldflame Honeysuckle / Major Wheeler Honeysuckle
Bottom L to R: Fragrant Cloud Honeysuckle / Peaches and Cream Honeysuckle
How to Grow Honeysuckle FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions that may help you as you learn how to grow honeysuckle.
How Long Does It Take for Honeysuckle to Grow?
Honeysuckle is a fast-growing plant. Many varieties can grow several feet in a single season once established. Plants grown from seeds may take a year or two before they begin flowering.
Does Honeysuckle Need Full Sun?
How Often Should Honeysuckle Be Watered?
Newly planted honeysuckle should be watered regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Once established, most varieties only need weekly watering during dry periods.