Lonicera periclymenum WOODBINE HONEYSUCKLE (plant)

Woodbine Honeysuckle, also known as Common Honeysuckle or Lonicera periclymenum, is a hardy, perennial, woody climbing plant belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family. Native to Europe and North Africa, it typically reaches a height of 2 to 4 meters. It features semi-evergreen, smooth, and glossy lanceolate leaves that grow in pairs along the stem, measuring about 4 to 10 cm long.

The foliage is dark green on the upper side and slightly paler underneath.

Its highly fragrant flowers appear in clusters at the leaf axils, usually in summer. They are tubular and bicolor, with a greenish-yellow exterior and an interior that fades from white to yellow.

Fruit is a non-edible globose berry, 6 to 10 mm in diameter, which starts green and turns red, then black at maturity.

Common Honeysuckle seeds are dark brown and slightly angular.

- Uses:

A Mystical Fragrance for Summer Nights

Woodbine is an enchanted forest vine that transforms your evenings.
It exhales a sweet, captivating scent, which reaches its peak intensity at dusk.
This ingenious olfactory strategy is no accident: it allows the plant to attract large Sphinx moths, the only pollinators capable of reaching the nectar at the base of its long, tubular flowers. A living spectacle for biodiversity enthusiasts.

The Twisted Acrobat of the Wild Undergrowth

This hardy climbing vine possesses a unique method of ascent: it coils around its supports exclusively in a clockwise direction.
Over the years, its torsional strength is such that it can imprint a spectacular and permanent helix into the wood of the young trees that serve as its tutors.
It is a plant with a strong character, a true sculptor of greenery, which will add a wild and graphic touch to your space.

Planting Advice for Your Garden

Honeysuckle is a robust plant that thrives when its roots are in the shade and its top in the sun.
At Ethnoplants, we recommend it for covering a pergola, an old wall, or for creating fragrant flowering hedges. Its vigorous growth requires a sturdy support from the moment of planting.
Once established, it requires little maintenance and offers a renewed bloom that will delight both your senses and the nocturnal pollinators of your garden.

- Culture and Planting:

• Plant honeysuckle in a 5-liter pot using high-quality horticultural soil, placing it just below the root collar.
• Ensure the bottom of the pot is well-drained with clay pebbles.
• Water moderately at the base of the plant.
• Provide a trellis or support system for the stems to climb.
• It can also be planted directly in the ground in a very bright location.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

This hedge vine prefers rich, cool, and well-drained soil. It thrives in slightly acidic to neutral soils but can tolerate lime (calcareous soil). Fertile earth encourages optimal development.

- Exposure / Light:

It requires a sunny to partially shaded exposure. Good sunlight will promote more abundant flowering and faster growth.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

This species is very hardy and can tolerate temperatures as low as -15°C. It grows best when temperatures are between 15 and 30°C.

- Watering / Irrigation:

Regular irrigation is necessary to keep the soil cool, especially during dry spells and the first year after planting. Once established, the plant becomes more drought-resistant and requires less frequent watering.

- Reproduction / Multiplication:

Reproduction can be achieved through seeds or by taking stem cuttings during the summer.

- Diseases / Pests:

Diseases: Generally resilient, but it can be susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungus that creates a white dust on the leaves.

Pests: Aphids occasionally colonize the young buds.

This article was written by Julien on 07/16/2026.