Why do so many people have a honeysuckle in their garden? - Simply because they deserve to be there!
Easy to grow, with the most fantasic scent, you can't really go wrong with these wonderful plants. Whether grown on their own or in combination with other plants, their form, colour and scent are worthy of our admiration. Having waxed lyrical on their fabulous scent, there are some varieties however that are unscented, for example the beautiful 'Dropmore Scarlet', which is grown for its spectacular red trumpet flowers and bluey-green leaves. This variety is well suited to being a feature plant in the more modern garden. For outstanding scent, I would recommend the 'Late Dutch Honeysuckle' (Lonicers periclymenun serotina), the 'Gold Flame' variety or one of the Japanese varieties, with their intensely fragrant flowers.
To see the above mentioned and to find other climbing plants to work in combination, take a look at the plant search below. This will give you ideas on the extensive range of available climbers.
There is no need to prune if you do not wish to although, in time, the base of the plant will become an intertwining spiral of bare stems. If this happens, you can simply cut back the whole plant to about 6" and it will shoot again - the delicate appearance of the honeysuckle belies its vigorous and resiliant nature!
If you would prefer a more controlled plant, cut back flowered stems to 2-3 leaf buds in early spring. Other than that, these plants will very much take care of themselves.
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