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Lonicera periclymenum - L.

Common Name Honeysuckle, European honeysuckle
Family Caprifoliaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards Poisonous in large doses[10]. It only has a very mild action[65].
Habitats Woods, hedgerows, scrub and shady places, avoiding calcareous soils[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and Greece.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle, European honeysuckle


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Asio_otus
Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle, European honeysuckle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Sannse

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of climber
Lonicera periclymenum is a deciduous Climber growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Nectar
Edible Uses:

Children (of all ages) suck the base of the flowers to extract the nectar[66].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antispasmodic  Astringent  Cathartic  Depurative  Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Emetic  Expectorant  
Febrifuge  Laxative  Mouthwash  Skin  Vulnerary

The plant has expectorant and laxative properties[4]. A syrup made from the flowers has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases whilst a decoction of the leaves is considered beneficial in treating diseases of the liver and spleen[4]. It is used as a mouthwash for ulcers[66] and is considered to be a good ingredient in gargles[4]. The flowers are antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge and sudorific[240]. The fruit is emetic and cathartic[4]. The herbage is used as a cutaneous and mucous tonic and as a vulnerary[4]. It is also diaphoretic[4]. The leaves are laxative and slightly astringent[240]. The seed is diuretic[4]. The bark is anticatarrhal, depurative, diuretic and sudorific[240].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

A climbing plant, it can be allowed to scramble on the ground where it makes a good ground cover[208]. Plants should be spaced about 1.2 metres apart each way[208]. A very good moth and butterfly plant[30], it is also an important food for many caterpillars including the larvae of the rare white admiral butterfly[186]. The dense growth of the plant offers good nesting possibilities for birds[186].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife  Food Forest  Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils from acid to base-rich[186]. Prefers its roots in the shade with its shoots climbing up into the sun[200]. Plants succeed even in quite deep shade[219]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[190]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[184]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are a number of named varieties[184]. The flowers are very fragrant, especially in the evening when it attracts pollinating moths[186, 245]. New leaves often start to open in January with well-grown leaves in April[186]. The leaves fall in November[186]. Twining plants, they can bind themselves so tightly round young trees that they can prevent the trunk from being able to expand[186]. A very good moth and butterfly plant[30], it is also an important food for many caterpillars including the larvae of the rare white admiral butterfly[186]. The dense growth of the plant offers good nesting possibilities for birds[186]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[113] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[78]. Layering in autumn[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Diervilla loniceraBush Honeysuckle, Northern bush honeysuckleShrub1.0 3-8 MLMHSNM022
Lonicera affinis Climber7.0 5-9  LMHSNM11 
Lonicera angustifoliaNarrow-leafed honeysuckleShrub2.7 4-8 MLMHNM402
Lonicera caeruleaSweetberry honeysuckle, Bluefly honeysuckle, Haskap berryShrub2.0 3-9 FLMHNM400
Lonicera canadensisFly Honeysuckle, American fly honeysuckleShrub1.5 3-7  LMHNM11 
Lonicera caprifoliumItalian Honeysuckle, Italian woodbineClimber6.0 4-8 MLMHFSNM122
Lonicera chrysanthaHoneysuckleShrub4.0 3-7  LMHNM10 
Lonicera ciliosaOrange HoneysuckleClimber10.0 4-8 MLMHSNM222
Lonicera gracilipes Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera gracilipes glabra Shrub1.8 5-9  LMHNM11 
Lonicera henryi Climber6.0 4-8  LMHSNM113
Lonicera involucrataTwinberry, Twinberry honeysuckleShrub1.2 4-8 MLMHNM222
Lonicera japonicaJapanese HoneysuckleClimber5.0 4-10 FLMHSNDM233
Lonicera morrowiiMorrow's honeysuckleShrub2.0 3-7  LMHNM110
Lonicera nitidaBoxleaf HoneysuckleShrub3.0 6-9 FLMHFSNM003
Lonicera pileataPrivet honeysuckleShrub0.2 4-8  LMHFSNDM003
Lonicera quinquelocularis Shrub5.0 4-8  LMHNDM002
Lonicera sempervirensTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleShrub5.0 4-9 FLMHNDM01 
Lonicera utahensisUtah HoneysuckleShrub1.5 4-8  LMHNM11 
Lonicera venulosa Shrub1.5 5-9  LMHNM20 
Lonicera villosaMountain fly honeysuckle, Fuller's honeysuckleShrub1.5 3-9 SLMHNM300
Lonicera villosa solonis Shrub0.8 -  LMHNM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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jacob moore   Mon Jun 18 2007

i would absolutely love to meet the people who make this website and are interested in this area as i am very interested in this area myself and would love to meet you to help with this website and maybe share my interests with you privately. i love it! Reply to meet my needs.

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Subject : Lonicera periclymenum  
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