This plant is a twining deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen perennial that has long graced the gardens in England.

It is always included somewhere in an English garden.
Honeysuckle grows wild in my local woods and its scent is a delight to savour.

It can be grown over arches or poles to give height to your gardens or left to ramble through big shrubs.

It is an easy plant to grow as it dislikes being pruned and is best left to its own devices.If it really gets out of hand then chop back in late autumn.

Plant it close to your garden paths so you can easily enjoy the delicious fragrance especially in the evening.

Its’ Latin name Caprifolium, which literally translated means Goat’s leaf, was given to it because people thought that goats given a preference actually preferred to eat honeysuckle leaves than everything else!

Honeysuckle likes fertile well drained soil and will grow in sun or semi shade.
I have always found it quite tolerant of conditions.

Take cuttings in the summer from non flowering shoots.

Which to buy?

Fragrantissima – deciduous or semi-evergreen has fragrant creamy white flowers in early spring and grows to 72 inches.

L.periclymenum – Graham Thomas – has white flowers that age to yellow - it flowers in summer and grows to 23 foot.

L. Serotina has very fragrant dark purple flowers in the mid to late summer 22 foot.
This really is a lovely honeysuckle, plant one near to your favourite sitting spot.

L. japonica Halliana – is evergreen or semi-evergreen with very fragrant white flowers in the summer and autumn can grow to 30 foot.

L.Americana is deciduous and has yellow flowers tinged with a purpley red and grows to 23foot.

Note that the berries should be kept away from children as they can be poisonous if eaten in quantity.

There is a little RHS guide to the best climbing plants for your garden which has a good bit about honeysuckles and other scented climbers you can use to enhance your English Garden

Climbing Plants


Enjoy your garden.