German honeysuckle -

Lonicera Caprifolium

Height: a 5–8 m long climber

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 are yellow-brown in colour.

Flowers: yellowish white, fragrant, 4–5 cm long, two-lipped, blooms in mid-June for about two weeks. A very floriferous variety.

Fruits: after flowering, fruits develop – spherical, coral-red berries, 0.5 cm in diameter, inedible.

Foliage: leaves dark green above, bluish green beneath, elliptical, 4–5 cm long.

Winter hardiness: in severe winters, the young, unripe shoots may suffer frost damage. Very winter-hardy throughout Latvia.

Growing conditions: both a sunny and a partially shaded place are suitable. The place intended for honeysuckles need not be very large; it is enough to allow about one metre of free space. In terms of soil requirements, they need humus-rich, loose, moderately moist soil, preferably improved with compost or well-rotted manure or its 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 lush foliage and are fairly fast-growing; they need moisture to produce green mass. After planting, water thoroughly, then mulch to retain 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, plants 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 fertilisers, which will strengthen the root system.

Training.All honeysuckles should be pruned regularly 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, heap dry peat or other dry material over the root area and cover the shoots with spruce branches or reed matting. Once the honeysuckle is older, it does not need to be covered for winter.

Supports. Supports should be 3–5 cm in diameter, and by shaping them differently, different directions of growth can be achieved for the climber. It can be grown against building walls, fences, pergolas. Supports may be made from different materials, but less winter-hardy plants are best not planted by metal.