Honeysuckle »An overview of the diversity

Which representatives belong to this plant family?

To the family of Honeysuckle (Botanists also say Caprifoliaceae) include above all the following plants:

• Forest honeysuckle
• Heckrott's honeysuckle
• Fragrant honeysuckle
• Fragrant honeysuckle
• Weigela
• Snowberry
• Seven-sons-of-heaven-shrub
• Abelie

The woolly ones used to be too Snowball, the wrinkled viburnum and other snowballs as well as elderberry species are counted in this plant family. But that has changed. Now the plants mentioned belong to the musk herb family.

Properties that all honeysuckle have in common

All honeysuckle plants are included in the card-like order. There are around 50 genera and 700 species. These plants are mainly found in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. They mainly colonize regions of North America and East Asia.

For the most part, these plants are shrubs and creepers. Fewer specimens develop into perennials or smaller trees. Furthermore, most of the members of this family are woody. All species are more or less winter-proof and industry-proof. The wintergreen and evergreen specimens are considered to be more sensitive to frost.

Other common external features include cross-opposing leaves. They are usually simply divided into a petiole and a leaf blade. The flowers are five-fold and the corolla and calyx are fused together. The fruits are either berries or stone fruits.

Requirements for the location

These plants prefer to grow in Penumbra. However, they are also suitable for shady locations. More flowers develop in sunny places. But the disadvantage is that there is an increased risk of drought there, which the honeysuckle family does not like.

The soil should be normally permeable. A slightly acidic, humus-rich and nutrient-rich substrate is also advantageous for these plants. Waterlogging or dryness should never prevail. In no time these plants are damaged.

The honeysuckle - a popular climbing plant for the garden

The honeysuckle, of which there are around 180 species is a popular garden, creeper and flowering plant. The species include the following specimens with their Latin names:

• Lonicera alseuosmoides
• Lonicera x americana
• Lonicera brownii
• Lonicera caerulea
• Lonicera caprifolium
• Lonicera x heckrottii
• Lonicera henryi
• Lonicera japonica
• Lonicera nitida
• Lonicera periclymenum

The honeysuckle species have the following characteristics in common:

• Well cut compatible
• poisonous fruits
• 3 to 10 m tall
• sweet smelling
• winding to the right
• a climbing object or Trellis becomes the Climb needed
• elliptical leaves
• yellow-white, sometimes pale red or purple-tinged flowers
• long anthers
• Flowering time between May and October
• a cool floor is required

Tips & Tricks

Many honeysuckle plants can also be kept in buckets without any problems. But with the bucket culture, they all require more care.