Lonicera gracilipes
Lonicera gracilipes · Caprifoliaceae
📷 Qwert1234 · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Baies toxiques : chiens, chats et enfants risquent troubles gastro-intestinaux par ingestion.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around lonicera gracilipes and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Lonicera gracilipes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June, pale pink flowers
- Mature size
- Approximately 150 cm in height
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- Good, hardy in temperate climates
- Origin
- Japan
- Soil type
- Fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lonicera gracilipes is low-maintenance: well-drained soil, partial shade. Prune lightly after flowering (June) to keep it compact.
The common mistake
Don't over-prune or prune too late trying to 'tidy up'—you'll remove the decorative berries that birds love.
The pro's trick
Let it sprawl naturally over a support or wall: it becomes fuller, flowers more profusely, and produces more berries.
Seasonal watch
In September-October, if you want to harvest berries, do it fast before the birds grab them all—you've got just a few days.
Care
Exposure
Japanese pink honeysuckle thrives in semi-shaded exposure, ideal for preserving the delicate color of its flowers. It also tolerates direct sun in temperate climates, provided the soil stays cool. Avoid overly shaded areas that reduce flowering.
Watering
Keep the soil regularly moist, especially during growth and flowering. Water deeply once or twice weekly depending on weather conditions, avoiding excess water that promotes fungal diseases. Reduce watering in winter.
Soil and planting
Prefer fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Enrich the soil with compost or potting mix at planting time. A 5 to 7 cm mulch layer helps maintain moisture and regulates root temperature.
Pruning and shaping
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact form and encourage branching. Remove dead or poorly positioned branches. Moderate pruning every two years is sufficient, as honeysuckle handles this well.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring at the start of growth. A second application just before flowering promotes abundant flowering. Prefer organic or slow-release fertilizer for gradual nutrition.
Health and pests
Generally robust, this honeysuckle may be affected by powdery mildew in humid, shaded conditions. Ensure good air circulation. Check regularly for aphids in spring, easily controlled by spraying.
Did you know?
Honeysuckle has long been a classic in Japanese gardens, appreciated for its delicate flowers and light fragrance. Its genus name Lonicera honors 16th-century German botanist Adam Lonicer. In East Asia, several species of this genus are traditionally used in phytotherapy for their soothing properties.
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.