Lonicera japonicaJapanese Honeysuckle

Scent is what Lonicera japonica is grown for. Paired tubular flowers open white and age to deep yellow, and on a warm evening a single established plant will carry right across a courtyard.

It is also one of the most aggressive climbers in cultivation, twining to 10 metres and rooting wherever the stems touch ground. In its native East Asia that is unremarkable; in North America, Australia and New Zealand it is a listed invasive species, and any specification should say so.

Specifications

• Height4 to 10 metres on a support
• Width2 to 4 metres
• Native toEastern Asia, in China, Japan and Korea
• FoliageOvate leaves in opposite pairs on twining stems; evergreen to semi-evergreen depending on climate
• Growth rateFast

Conditions

• SoilGrows on almost any soil, from sand to heavy clay
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterLow to moderate; drought-tolerant once established
• ClimateThrives in temperate, warm temperate and subtropical regions

Additional Features

• FlowersPaired tubular flowers opening white and ageing to deep yellow, intensely fragrant, from spring through autumn
• UsesPergolas, fences, screens and arbours where the spread can be contained
• SpacingPlant 2 to 3 metres apart along a support
• Low MaintenanceCut back hard once a year to keep the plant inside its allotted space
• Pest ResistanceGenerally untroubled, with aphids on soft new growth
• Drought ToleranceEstablished plants hold condition on low irrigation
• Wildlife AttractionNight scent draws moths, and the black berries are taken by birds, which is also how it spreads

Japanese Honeysuckle offers the best scent of any hardy climber and demands the containment that goes with it.