The Ultimate Guide to Honeysuckle Plants: 13 Varieties for Your Garden
Honeysuckle plants are a delightful addition to any garden, offering ease of care, fragrant blooms, and attracting pollinators. With over 180 species in the Lonicera genus, selecting the right honeysuckle for your garden can be overwhelming. But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore 13 of the best types of honeysuckle plants that are sure to enhance your landscape.
Why Honeysuckle?
Before we dive into the specific types of honeysuckle, let’s take a moment to appreciate the benefits of incorporating these plants into your garden:
- Hardy and attractive specimens
- Ease of care
- Fragrant blooms that attract pollinators
- Striking fruits
Now, let’s explore the 13 best types of honeysuckle plants for your garden:
1. Alpine
Hailing from central and southern Europe, L. alpigena is a semi-evergreen shrub with cherry-looking fruits and yellowish flowers tinged with shades of dark red. A notable cultivar is ‘Nana,’ which grows slowly and has a maximum height of three feet.
2. Box
L. nitida, a Chinese-native shrub, is valued for its evergreen foliage and graceful arching branches. The Thunderbolt™ box honeysuckle is a fragrant and cold-hardy variety that adds elegance to any landscape.
3. Brown’s
Brown’s honeysuckle, a hybrid of L. sempervirens and L. hirsuta, offers smaller orange flowers and is hardier than its parent species. Varieties like ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ and ‘Mandarin’s Brown’ showcase unique characteristics and cold-hardiness.
4. Burmese
Featuring glossy, dark green leaves and massive green berries, the giant Burmese honeysuckle is a showstopper. This evergreen vine can reach heights of 50 to 60 feet and is the world’s largest Lonicera species.
5. Goldflame
L. xheckrottii, a hybrid species, boasts deep carmine-pink flowers with creamy orange-yellow throats. This disease-resistant variety earned the prestigious Award of Garden Merit for its exceptional beauty and resilience.
6. Honeyberry
Also known as haskap, L. caerulea produces antioxidant-rich dark blue fruits that are perfect for culinary uses. Varieties like ‘Tundra’ and ‘Blue Lightning’ offer large, flavorful fruits suitable for a variety of dishes.
7. Japanese
L. japonica, a semi-evergreen vine, is capable of vigorous growth and provides winter forage for deer. Varieties like ‘Hall’s Prolific’ and ‘Purpurea’ offer unique characteristics and ornamental value.
8. Morrow
Native to Japan, L. morrowii is a deciduous shrub with blood-red berries and unique growth habits. Cultivars like ‘Xanthocarpa’ showcase distinctive flower and fruit colors.
9. Perfoliate
L. caprifolium, a twining deciduous vine, features orange-red fruits and pink-tinged white flowers. This unique species attracts nocturnal hawk moths and offers a striking foliage arrangement.
10. Privet
L. pileata is similar to L. nitida but with elongated leaves and evergreen foliage. This versatile plant is ideal for hedging and massing in Zones 7 to 9.
11. Trumpet
L. sempervirens, a North American native, features bright red flowers and berries with attractive foliage. Varieties like ‘Sulphurea’ and ‘Major Wheeler’ offer unique flower colors and attract hummingbirds and songbirds.
12. Winter
L. fragrantissima blooms in winter with small, white flowers and bright red berries. This deciduous shrub offers fragrance and color during the cold months and attracts wildlife to your garden.
13. Woodbine
L. periclymenum, native to Europe and northern Africa, is a versatile deciduous plant with ivory-shaded blooms and glossy green leaves. Cultivars like ‘Serotina,’ ‘Peaches and Cream,’ and ‘Scentsation’ offer unique flower colors and fragrances.
In Conclusion
Honeysuckle plants offer a wide range of benefits, from fragrant blooms to vibrant fruits that attract wildlife. By selecting the right variety for your garden, you can enhance the beauty and biodiversity of your landscape. Whether you choose a climbing vine or a bushy shrub, honeysuckles are sure to bring joy and beauty to your outdoor space. Explore the diverse world of honeysuckle plants and create a garden that blooms with color and life.
