About
Lonicera etrusca, the Etruscan honeysuckle, is a vigorous, woody, deciduous or semi-evergreen twining climber to 4 m with purplish young shoots and oval, mid-green to grey-green, downy leaves. Tubular, two-lipped, perfumed, red-flushed, creamy flowers 5 cm long age to yellow and are produced in early to midsummer, followed by red berries. A beautiful and fragrant honeysuckle for a sunny or partly shaded wall or pergola.
About the genus
Lonicera, the honeysuckles, are deciduous and evergreen shrubs and climbers with twining stems, simple leaves and tubular or two-lipped flowers that are often very fragrant, followed by red or black berries. Widely grown for hedging, wildlife gardens, and covering fences, walls and pergolas.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous, Semi evergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
FragranceFlower
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationThis climbing honeysuckle grows best in full sun, and thrives in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil. See honeysuckle (climbing) cultivation
PruningPruning group 11 after flowering
PropagationPropagate by layering, softwood cuttings, semi-ripe cuttings, leaf-bud cuttings and hardwood cuttings
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)