Honeysuckle
Lonicera acuminata · Caprifoliaceae
📷 Raffi Kojian · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around honeysuckle and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- June to August, tubular white or cream flowers
- Adult size
- Up to 2.5 m tall
- Growth
- Moderate to fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy (down to -15 °C depending on conditions)
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Origin
- Southeast Asia (China, Himalayas)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lonicera acuminata climbs vigorously: give it a sturdy support (trellis, stake) right at planting and gently guide the flexible stems. It flowers generously all summer long if it gets partial sun and cool, moist roots.
The common mistake
Planting it in completely dry soil: it needs cool, moist roots even if the upper foliage can handle some shade.
The pro's trick
Mulch thickly (5-7 cm) around the base in summer to keep roots cool and it'll flower non-stop.
Care
Watering
Keep the soil moist without excess humidity, especially in the first two years. Water regularly during the growing season and during prolonged dry spells. Reduce watering in winter. Prefer morning watering to limit fungal diseases.
Exposure
Plant your acuminate honeysuckle in partial shade to full sun. It tolerates partial shade well but flowers more abundantly with at least a few hours of direct sunlight. Avoid overly hot and dry exposures in Mediterranean climates.
Pruning and training
Prune lightly after flowering (August-September) to maintain a harmonious and dense shape. Remove dead or poorly oriented branches. Annual moderate pruning encourages branching and flowering the following year. Avoid severe pruning which reduces flowering.
Soil and planting
Prefer well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, neutral to slightly acidic. Enrich the planting hole with compost or peat. This species tolerates some diversity of substrates but dislikes root asphyxiation and waterlogging.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring (April) to stimulate growth and flowering. Annual organic mulching (3-5 cm) is often sufficient to provide nutrients progressively. Avoid excess nitrogen which would favor foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Watch for powdery mildew in dry, hot weather: ensure good foliage ventilation and avoid foliar watering. Aphids may colonize young shoots in spring; maintain good hygiene. Generally hardy if drainage and aeration conditions are respected.
Did you know?
The Lonicera genus is named in honor of Adam Lonicer, a German Renaissance botanist. Honeysuckle symbolizes eternal love and fidelity in many traditions; its nectar-rich flowers attract bees and butterflies, making it an excellent ally for pollinator gardens.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- HoneysuckleLonicera periclymenum
- Small scabiousScabiosa columbaria
- Red valerianCentranthus ruber
- Japanese honeysuckleLonicera japonica
- Himalayan honeysuckleLeycesteria formosa
- Involucred honeysuckleLonicera involucrata
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.