Practical
Plants

Lonicera caprifolium

Italian Honeysuckle

a deciduous member of the Lonicera genus in the family Caprifoliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
moderate
Height
6 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit is eaten in small quantities[3]. It is probably cooked first[K]. An infusion of the heavily perfumed flowers is used as a tea substitute[12].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The fruit is emetic and cathartic[10]. The pressed juice makes a mild purgative[12][11]. The leaves and flowers are antispasmodic, emollient and expectorant[12]. They are used as a cutaneous and mucous tonic and as a vulnerary[10]. Recent research has shown that the plant has an outstanding curative action in cases of colitis[12]. The seed is diuretic[10]. The plant is used in Bach flower remedies - the keywords for prescribing it are 'Dwelling upon thoughts of the past', 'Nostalgia' and 'Homesickness'[7].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Bach
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Emollient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil has been extracted from the flowers and used to make a very sweet perfume, but yields are extremely low[12].

Product or use
Essential

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber

Environment

Range
Europe - Austria and Czechoslovakia to Romania and Turkey. Introduced in Britain.
Habitat
Hedges, scrub and woods[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[2] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[13]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[13]. Layering in autumn[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a good moist soil with its roots in the shade and its top growing into the light[5]. Succeeds even in quite deep shade[8]. Tolerates both acid and alkaline soils, only showing distress on very alkaline soils[6]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[6]. Plants are moderately fast-growing[6]. They climb by twining around other plants[4]. The flowers are very fragrant, especially of a night time in order to attract pollinating moths, and are produced in abundance[6][8][9], but plants only produce fruit after a hot summer[6]. Plants are prone to attacks by mildew and blackfly[6].

References

  1. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  2. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  4. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Chancellor. P. M. Handbook of the Bach Flower Remedies C. W. Daniel Co. Ltd. 1985-00-00 ISBN 85207 002 0

    ↩

  8. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  10. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  12. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  13. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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