How to Grow Honeysuckle Vine

Plants & Flowers
Honeysuckle Hanging

Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera spp.) is a lovely plant you can grow in your garden. This is a large family with over 180 different varieties. The family consists of hardy shrubs and vines you can grow almost anywhere in the USA. With so many different species and varieties, you can find the ones that suit you perfectly.

Since there are so many different varieties to choose from you can get exactly what you need for your garden. Whatever variety you choose, chances are that it will be very easy to care for. These vines grow fast and strong without much effort on your part. For this reason they make excellent plants for beginner gardeners or those who don't want to spend a lot of time caring for their plaints.

These plants are heat hardy so they can tolerate even the hottest USA climate. They will make a great addition to your garden as vines or ground covers. Honeysuckle vines look particularly great when they bloom and produce beautiful yellow and white flowers.

Basic Care Tips

Here are some quick tips on how to care for a Honeysuckle vine:

  • Honeysuckle vines can tolerate many different soil types so chances are that you have in your garden is good enough. That being said, these vines prefer well-drained soil that is amended with some organic matter.
  • Honeysuckle vines should ideally be grown in full sun because this is what they prefer. Full sun is also the best way to make it thrive.
  • If you are unable to find a spot with full sun in your garden, don't worry. These plants can tolerate some shade.
  • You should water them occasionally and you should never over-water the vines. The only exception are very hot and dry summer days.

Should You Use a Trellis?

One of the most important things you need to decide is whether you want to use a trellis or another supporting structure or not. The choice is yours, because Honeysuckle plants can be grown both as vines and as ground cover plants.

Many people choose to use a trellis, an arbor, fence or another supporting structure. Honeysuckle vines love these and grow very fast so can quickly cover even the largest supporting structures. However, keep in mind that as the plant matures it will shade the lower parts of the vine. It will cause these lower portions to become woody and less attractive. In order to prevent this problem, simply thin out the top half of the vine during the dormant season. This will keep your plant healthy and strong.

You can also have your Honeysuckle vine cover an arbor. This is a perfect way to get some shade in an otherwise sunny environment. Also, you can have your Honeysuckle vine cover a fence or another supporting structure.

Growing Honeysuckle Vines in Containers

These vines do surprisingly well in containers and can be grown as potted plants. Many of the Honeysuckle varieties can thrive in a container but you need to provide them with adequate amount of water.

Also, in order to make your potted Honeysuckle vine happy, make sure to apply some 10-10-10 fertilizer in the beginning of the growing season. Never over-fertilize but make sure to do this at the beginning of the growing season.

Potted Honeysuckle vines can do great with supporting structures so it's best to give them a trellis to climb or another supporting structure. You may also allow your vines to hang in a basket.

Honeysuckle Vines Care Tips

Here are some additional tips on how to care about your Honeysuckle vine:

  • Honeysuckle vines are strong plants that to not require a lot of care. However, you need to provide them with occasional watering.
  • Pruning is a great way to help your vine grow strong and healthy. It is best done in the fall or winter, when the plant is dormant.
  • Some of the varieties of these vines grow very fast as a ground cover and can become invasive. In order to prevent this problem you need to clip them from time to time. Make sure to shear and shape them regularly to keep them within their boundaries.
  • In case you did not cut your Honeysuckle vine properly you will need to give it a heavy prune. Don't worry about doing this: these vines can take a lot of pruning without damage. They will simply pop back up again in the next spring.
  • You can use your Honeysuckle vine for erosion control but in this case you should not prune them.

Photo credit: Lorianne DiSabato

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