“Honeysuckle?”
“You actually want to PLANT honeysuckle in our yard? My mom used to pay me to dig those invasive vines out of our gardens when we lived in Chestnut Hill!”
My husband really thought I was crazy when I suggested that we plant these vigorous vines to grow up the tall posts that support our deck. His mom was an avid gardener and had wonderful gardens planted around their beautiful stone home near Philadelphia. Planting honeysuckle on purpose went against every gardening lesson she had ever taught him!
“But it’s really pretty and it’s a cultivated variety that isn’t invasive,” I insisted. He wasn’t convinced but he let me plant them anyway. It didn’t take long for him to change his mind! As soon as the first hummingbird came to the lightly scented flowers, he was hooked. You see, they were also avid birders!
There are many beautiful species of twining honeysuckle (Lonicera) that are not invasive and make colorful accents in the garden on fences, posts, arbors, or trellises. They represent one of the few flowering vines that grow and bloom reliably in the more northern zones. These attractive vines are long blooming and most will bloom from June through August when planted in a sunny area.
The one I have climbing up the posts at the corners of our deck (Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’) must really like where it is because it blooms rather profusely from early June through September and will even produce flowers sporadically until the first frost! The hummingbirds love it and so do the butterflies. The only downside is that it doesn’t seem to be as fragrant as it’s supposed to be, but the constant production of beautiful flowers and subsequent bright red berries more than makes up for that.
What I like most about this flowering vine is the progression of color and interest that it provides on my deck. There is a continuous succession of deep rose colored buds, delicate pink and cream flowers, and shiny, bright red fruits. All three stages of the flowering cycle are attractive and most of the time they can all be found on the vine at the same time. Spectacular! Even in the winter after the leaves fall, the straw colored stems twining up their support add interest in the garden.
During the summer, hummingbirds and butterflies are frequent visitors to my honeysuckles. It’s really cool to relax on the deck after work and watch the hummingbirds zip from flower to flower and then off again. I wish I had some pictures to share! Maybe next year I’ll manage to get a few. It’s funny how they can’t manage to share the great profusion of flowers! They are so territorial – always chasing each other off!
The vibrant red berries begin to appear in mid summer and make wonderful treats for the wild birds. They persist on the vines even after the leaves drop in the late fall providing a splash of bright color for us and food for the birds. In fact, in September when the flower production slows, the bright red berries really “steal the show”!
So there you have it – a beautiful flowering vine that provides interest, color, and sweet treats all season long! A great plant for us gardeners AND the critters to share!
Until next time – Happy Gardening!
[…] A Vine that Keeps on Giving … “Honeysuckle?” The beautiful honeysuckle flowers bring hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden. “You actually want to PLANT honeysuckle in our yard? My mom used to pay me to dig those invasive vines out of our gardens when we lived . […]
Are the Serotina honeysuckle seeds fertile or sterile ?