About
A vigorous, winter-flowering, deciduous shrub about 1.5m tall, with grey-green leaves and pairs of yellowish-white flowers to 1.5cm long, produced in the leaf axils from early to late winter. Very heavy crops of large, edible, oval, dark blue, bloomy berries about 3cm long with very sweet flesh, ripen in early summer.
About the genus
Lonicera can be deciduous and evergreen shrubs, or climbers with twining stems. The tubular or two-lipped flowers, often very fragrant, are followed by red or black berries
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7
Plant details
Plant typeShrubs, Fruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow this edible shrubby honeysuckle in any well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. See honeysuckle (shrubby) cultivation
PruningPruning group 2. Keep pruning to a minimum for the first three years, then remove weak or damaged stems and relieve congestion by removing some of the older stems back to their base. The remaining young stems can be lightly pruned to encourage sideshoots in early to midsummer, immediately after the harvest.
PropagationPropagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to honeysuckle aphids, Thrips and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, fungal leaf spot, silver leaf and honey fungus (rarely)