Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ – Lonicera periclymenum ‘Late Dutch Honeysuckle’ – Common Honeysuckle – Honeysuckle – Woodbine –

Description

Lonicera – Honeysuckle – Woodbine – There are about 180 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, groundcovers, and twining climbers in this genus. They are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, where they grow in varied habitats ranging from woodland and thickets to rocky places. They are grown for their tubular to funnel shaped, often sweetly fragrant flowers, which are usually 2 lipped or have 5 small, spreading lobes. The leathery leaves are held in opposite pairs, up to 6″ long and usually simple. Honey suckles may be grown in a variety of situations: train climbers on a wall or fence, or into a a large shrub or small tree, grow shrub in a shrub border, or use for hedging or as a groundcover. Some species may become invasive. The berries may cause mild stomach upset if ingested. Honeysuckles are attractive to bees and birds. Grow shrubs in any well drained soil in full or partial shade, grow climbers in fertile, humus rich, moist but well drained soil. They may become straggly unless pruned and some may need to pruned twice a year. Prone to aphids, leaf roller, scale insects, dieback, powdery mildew, leaf spots, and blights. L. periclymenum ‘Serotina’ – ‘Late Dutch Honeysuckle’ – Common Honeysuckle – This vigorous, woody, deciduous or semi evergreen, twining climber grows 12-20′ feet high. It produces paired, ovate, oval, or obovate mid green leaves, to 2 ½” long, glaucous beneath which emerge with a fine down later becoming smooth. In mid and late summer it bears terminal whorls of 3 to 5 tubular, 2 lipped, very fragrant, creamy white flowers streaked dark red-purple, to 2″ long, followed by a heavy crop of bright red berries. Zones 5-9