Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle PFAF Plant Database

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Lonicera periclymenum - L.

Common Name

Honeysuckle

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Synonyms

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

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Lonicera periclymenum is a deciduous Climber growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in) at a medium rate.
It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from Jun to August, and the seeds ripen from Jul to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, lepidoptera, self.The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (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.


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

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Nectar. Edible Uses: Children (of all ages) suck the base of the flowers to extract the nectar[66].

Medicinal Uses

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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].

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].

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].

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].

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Expert comment

Author
L.

Botanical References
1117200

Links / References

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.

Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.

A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.

[30]Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe.

An excellent book on Lepidoptera, it also lists their favourite food plants.

[66]Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery.

Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.

[78]Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.

A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[113]Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.

A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.

[184]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs.

Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[186]Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs.

An excellent guide to native British trees and shrubs with lots of details about the plants.

[190]Chatto. B. The Dry Garden.

A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover

An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[219]Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls

A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[240]Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).

Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.

An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
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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