German honeysuckle -

Lonicera periclymenum

"Graham Thomas"

Height: 3-4 m long climber, with annual growth of 1-2 m

Growing conditions in Latvia’s climatic zones: western, central, eastern zone

Crown: a vigorous climber, the shoots twine around the support in a spiral. Shoots grey-brown in colour.

Flowers: cream-coloured at first, yellow at the end of flowering, strongly and pleasantly fragrant, 4-5 cm long, two-lipped, arranged at the ends of the shoots, flowers abundantly in June-July, less intensively until September. Flowers on the previous year’s shoots. Fragrance more intense in the evenings.

Fruit: after flowering, fruit forms - spherical, red, glossy berries, 0,5 cm in diameter, ripen from August to October, inedible.

Foliage: leaves dark green above, bluish green beneath, ovate, 4-6 cm long.

Winter hardiness: in severe winters, young unripe shoots may suffer frost damage. A very winter-hardy, frost-resistant variety throughout Latvia.

Growing conditions: both a sunny and a partially shaded location are suitable for them. The place intended for honeysuckles need not be very wide; it will be enough if we allow about one metre of free space. In terms of soil requirements, prepare humus-rich, loose, moderately moist soil; it is better to improve it with compost or well-rotted manure, or their substitutes; they do not like clayey and heavy soils. When choosing plants, two-year-old and three-year-old own-root plants are recommended. Plant 0,5-1 cm deeper than it grew in the container.

These plants have dense foliage and grow fairly quickly; they need moisture to form green mass. When planting, water them thoroughly, then mulch to preserve moisture. Annual growth up to one metre.

Diseases, pests: the biggest drawback is the development of powdery mildew in the second half of summer. For prevention, in autumn after leaf fall, they can be sprayed with 2% Bordeaux mixture. This can also be done in spring before bud break. In summer, they can be dusted with sulphur if the air temperature is not lower than +20 degrees.

Honeysuckles are also visited by aphids. They are controlled with insecticides when the first pests appear.

Care: Fertilising. For fertilising in spring, we can use nitrogen or well-rotted manure. After flowering, honeysuckles can be treated with calcium-containing mineral fertiliser, which will strengthen the root system.

Pruning. Prune once a year after flowering. This will affect the plant’s flowering; new shoots and new flower clusters will form. With regular pruning, plants will not develop a dry lower part.

Winter protection. For the first couple of years, the shoots can be bent down for winter. When frost sets in, pile dry peat or other dry material over the root area and cover the shoots with spruce branches or a reed mat. Once the honeysuckle is older, it does not need to be covered for winter.

Supports. Supports should be 3–5 cm in diameter and, depending on how they are made, different directions of growth for the climber can be obtained. It can be grown against building walls, fences, pergolas. Supports may be made of various materials, but less winter-hardy plants should preferably not be planted by metal.