Scentsation Honeysuckle Vine

The Scentsation Honeysuckle is a sturdy climbing plant that grows by twining its stems around anything it can find, from a tree to a fence or trellis. It can grow 15 to 20 feet tall, and although deciduous, the leaves may often stay all winter in warmer areas. They are simple ovals, 2 to 4 inches long, and carried in pairs along the stems. Flowers appear in clusters of up to 25, at the ends of the stems, and from among the foliage, during summer, for a longer period, and more abundantly, than seen in the common honeysuckle. The flower clusters are more-or-less flat, making a circle of buds and blooms. Each flower is long and tubular, with a flaring mouth from which the stamens protrude. Buds are often pink, and flowers open creamy-white or pale-yellow. They are highly-scented with a delicious fragrance, stronger than found on the common European honeysuckle. The scent is strongest in the evening and during the night. They are pollinated by certain types of moths, which can detect them from miles away. Plant it on a trellis by a window, so that the scent drifts in the evening. Grow it twining up into a large shrub, on a fence, or on the panels of a pergola. Clusters of inedible red berries are often produced after flowering. These are quickly taken by birds once they are ripe. A romantic plant, referred to in Shakespeare’s plays and other poems, once called ‘woodbine’, and a symbol of the sweetness of love.

• Exceptionally abundant clusters of white and yellow blooms in summer
• A vigorous twining plant to grow on a trellis or up into a shrub or tree
• Outstanding fragrance, strongest in the evenings
• Clusters or red berries are attractive to birds
• Easily grown across a wide range of climates

Plant the Scentsation Honeysuckle with its base in the shade, but growing up into the sun. This could be shade from a shrub or even just a flat rock placed over the soil. This way it receives the cool, moist soil it enjoys, and blooms prolifically, over a long period, in the sun. Grow it where it has something to climb into – it just needs a little help to get started, and after that it will support itself. Plant in any well-drained soil, preferably with some added compost. It can also be planted in a container, making it great for covering the rails of a large terrace, or for growing up a wall in a paved courtyard. Plants in containers should be in blended potting soil and fed with liquid tomato or flowering-plant fertilizer. Honeysuckle is easy to grow, and rarely has any serious pest or disease issues. Provide sufficient water, as dry plants will stop blooming. Prune in late winter, cutting back the stems as needed – new growth will soon begin to bloom again.