Involucred honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata · Caprifoliaceae
📷 JerryFriedman · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Baies toxiques par ingestion. Chiens et chats : troubles gastro-intestinaux modérés.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around involucred honeysuckle and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- May to June, yellow flowers in pairs
- Adult size
- 200 cm tall, bushy form
- Growth
- Moderate to rapid
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (tolerates down to -20°C)
- Origin
- North America
- Soil type
- Fertile and well-drained, tolerates acidic and alkaline soils
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Lonicera involucrata grows fast and becomes dense: trim it short after June flowering to stimulate secondary branching. A shrub you don't trim becomes sparse and bare at the base.
The common mistake
Neglecting it during establishment: it climbs and stretches without proper structural support.
The pro's trick
After June flowering, cut it back hard (50cm from the ground): you'll get a second wave of dense foliage and sometimes even a light autumn bloom.
Care
Light Requirements
Involucred honeysuckle thrives in partial shade or full sun with at least 4 hours of direct light. In hot climates, partial shade prevents excessive foliage drying. It adapts well to semi-shaded locations.
Watering
Water regularly after planting, then moderately once established. Keep the soil slightly moist during active growing periods (spring-summer). Reduce watering in autumn and winter.
Soil and Planting
Plant in fertile, well-structured and well-drained soil. This shrub tolerates a wide range of pH levels. Enrich the planting hole with mature compost. Avoid permanently waterlogged soils.
Pruning and Cutting
Prune after flowering (June-July) to maintain a dense shape. Remove dead wood and poorly oriented branches. You can rejuvenate old specimens by cutting some stems back to 30 cm from the ground.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring or well-decomposed compost on the surface. An annual application is sufficient for fertile soil. Avoid excessive nitrogen applications that promote foliage at the expense of flowering.
Diseases and Pests
This is a robust shrub, seldom affected by serious diseases. Watch for aphids in early season. Poor drainage promotes root rot. Ensure sufficient air circulation through the center of the plant when pruning.
Did you know?
Involucred honeysuckle owes its name to the very visible involucral bracts that surround its pairs of flowers: these modified leaves form a spectacular protective corolla-like structure. Native to the humid forests of Canada and the northwestern United States, this species was used by indigenous peoples for the abundance of its red berries, appreciated by birds in late summer.
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
- Blue honeysuckleLonicera caerulea
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.