Honeysuckle Care
With 180+ varieties of Honeysuckle, you may wonder why we only carry Trumpet Coral (Lonicera sempervirens). Unlike some of its cousins, Trumpet Coral is a cream-of-the-crop USA native that is non-invasive and non-aggressive. It's also a great magnet for bees and hummingbirds which are drawn to the trumpet-shaped flowers' sweet nectar. All honeysuckles have the same basic care needs, so whether you bought a Trumpet from us or want to learn how to care for a different variety you got elsewhere, take a gander and see if anything helpful sticks out to you.
Honeysuckle Care Overview
- Growth habit: Vine that spreads
- Light: Full or part sun
- Spacing: 60 inches
- Soil: Well-drained
- Watering: 4-5 times per week, do not allow to dry out too much
- Fertilization: 10-30-20
- Pruning & Maintenance: Plant next to a trellis, arbor, or fence & prune to encourage growth & desired height
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USDA hardiness zones: 5-9 - Dormancy: Goes dormant and may shed all leaves
- Winter care: Water 2-3 times per week / protect from extreme temperatures
- Common pests: None
- Toxic to pets? No
Growth Habit
When you first receive a honeysuckle, it may seem like a flimsy plant with no potential. But keep faith in your baby plant--it will soon vine out so much you'll need to provide a trellis or fence for it to climb. The native varieties we sell are vigorous but not invasive, growing anywhere from an 8 to 20-foot vine. They will later develop trumpet-like flowers that hummingbirds and other pollinators are attracted to. We recommend growing honeysuckles outdoors due to its vining habit and for pollinators galore to enjoy.
Light
Honeysuckles thrive in full sun to partial shade, requiring at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Ensure that the plant receives adequate sunlight to promote healthy growth and vibrant blooms.
Spacing
This vining plant needs a little space to do its thing. Provide at least 60 inches between plants to give adequate room. You can plant several in a clump for a fuller look or plant single stemmed plants. Once it starts vining, it will be full either way.
Soil
Most plants, including Honeysuckles, prefer well-drained soil so they don't become waterlogged. We find two parts peat to one part perlite works well. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soil to prevent root rot.
Water
While this vine is drought-tolerant once established, regular watering is necessary during the first growing season. Water deeply but infrequently once planted in the landscape to encourage deep root growth and resilience to dry conditions.
Fertilizer
All fertilizers contain three primary nutrients: (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Honeysuckles generally thrive and flower abundantly with a ratio of 10 Nitrogen (N), 30 phosphate (P2O5), and 20 potash (K2O) along with other micronutrients. To encourage flowering, we’ve got you covered with our Flower Power Fuel.
We recommend fertilizing every 14 days in the growing season (spring/summer). Once the cooler temperatures of fall and winter hit, you can take a break from fertilizing as your plant goes dormant.
Pruning and Maintenance
Plant next to a trellis, arbor, or fence and prune to encourage new growth & desired height. Regular pruning is essential to maintain shape and health. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and to promote new growth. Remove any tangled or overcrowded stems to improve air circulation and to keep it under control.
USDA Hardiness Zones
Can I grow a Honeysuckle where I live? What if I live in a cold place? No problem. Honeysuckles have a broad growing range. Because of their vigorous vining nature though, they are best kept as outdoor plants, so make sure you live within the plant's zone. Most honeysuckles are hardy in zones 5-9 (coldest temperature = -20 degrees Fahrenheit)
On our website, we list each plant’s USDA hardiness zone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created the hardiness map to help gardeners identify the areas in which plants tend to grow well based on past average temperatures. On the USDA's site, you can enter your zip code to identify your hardiness zone.
Goes Dormant
Fall sweater weather, the scent of cinnamon brooms, and the flavor of pumpkin spice emanating from the kitchen all signal the beautiful autumn leaves 🍁 we all love turning from green to a crispy orange and yellow; we know that although the leaves have fallen, the trees are still alive and well; they’re just hibernating (in plant terms, going dormant) until the spring season brings a wellspring of new life. That means as long as you keep it protected from extreme freezing, your Honeysuckle vine will still be alive and well through the fall and winter but won't grow much.
Depending on your climate, it may or may not lose its leaves. In Southern climates, Honeysuckles are evergreen (gardening term for "keeps its leaves all year long") but when exposed to cold, the leaves may become purple-tinged. This does not signal any issue with the plant. It's just the cold leaving its mark. In colder climates, honeysuckles are semi-evergreen (gardening term for "loses most of its leaves in the cold season").
Although this vine is quite cold-tolerant (down to zone 5 or -20 Fahrenheit), dipping well below 40 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the plant to shed its current growth, meaning you may not be able to see any vibrant leaves, but new growth will come with new spring weather.
Winter Care
Compare your city’s USDA plant hardiness zone with the plant’s to see how much cold your Honeysuckle can endure 🥶. If you live outside zones 5-9, you’ll want to help it keep warm by mulching well and covering.
Your Honeysuckle won't need as much water while it's dormant because it won't have any or much top growth to support. Water lightly 2-3 times per week, allowing it to dry out somewhat between waterings.
Learn more in our Overwintering Guide.
Common Pests
The great news about Honeysuckles is that there are no major pests that affect this plant. It's pretty chill and easy-going as long as it has room to vine out and do its thing.
Toxic to Pets
Honeysuckles are not toxic to pets.
FAQs
Why are the leaves purple?How Should I Care for My Honeysuckle After It Arrives?
Please give your Honeysuckle a little TLC after its journey through the mail 📬. Here are a few steps we recommend:
- Unwrap immediately to provide fresh air to the plant and soil.
- Wait a few days before exposing to full sunlight so your plant can adjust after being in a dark box for several days.
- Always protect from heat and cold because temperature extremes can be stressful or deadly for plants.
- Water. Your baby plant may be parched and even a little wilted but thorough hydration will help it recover.
- Grow out in a larger pot to increase your chances of success—i.e., a quarter gallon—Then transplant to the ground or the next pot size up once the roots fill to the bottom. This will help the plant get sufficient water and nutrients directly to the roots.
Learn more in our After Arrival Care Guide.
What Size Pot Should I Use?
We highly recommend growing your baby plant out in a larger pot 🪴 to increase your chances of success
You don’t have to repot immediately, but the sooner you do, the more room it has to grow.
Here are some general repotting tips:
- Start with a pot that's 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the starter-sized pot it came in. A pint or quart would be great.
- Use a good general potting mix or make your own. We find two parts peat to one part perlite works well for most plants, allowing it to be well-drained but still moist.
- Transplant to the ground or the next pot size up once the roots fill to the bottom.
Learn more in our Repotting Guide.
Shop Honeysuckles
Start or continue growing your honeysuckle collection with Wellspring Gardens.
Happy planting! 🪴
