Practical
Plants

Lonicera periclymenum

Honeysuckle

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

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
deciduous
Growth rate
moderate
Height
4.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Lepidoptera, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

Poisonous in large doses[2]. It only has a very mild action[15].

Edible uses

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

Children (of all ages) suck the base of the flowers to extract the nectar[16].

Product or use
Nectar

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 plant has expectorant and laxative properties[14]. A syrup made from the flowers has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases whilst a decoction of the leaves is considered beneficial in treating diseases of the liver and spleen[14]. It is used as a mouthwash for ulcers[16] and is considered to be a good ingredient in gargles[14]. The flowers are antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge and sudorific[11]. The fruit is emetic and cathartic[14]. The herbage is used as a cutaneous and mucous tonic and as a vulnerary[14]. It is also diaphoretic[14]. The leaves are laxative and slightly astringent[11]. The seed is diuretic[14]. The bark is anticatarrhal, depurative, diuretic and sudorific[11].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Laxative
Product or use
Mouthwash
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

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

A climbing plant, it can be allowed to scramble on the ground where it makes a good ground cover[9]. Plants should be spaced about 1.2 metres apart each way[9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and Greece.
Habitat
Woods, hedgerows, scrub and shady places, avoiding calcareous soils[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

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[3] 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 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[17]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[17]. Layering in autumn[8].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in most soils from acid to base-rich[6]. Prefers its roots in the shade with its shoots climbing up into the sun[8]. Plants succeed even in quite deep shade[10]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant[7]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[5]. A very ornamental plant[1], there are a number of named varieties[5]. The flowers are very fragrant, especially in the evening when it attracts pollinating moths[6][12]. New leaves often start to open in January with well-grown leaves in April[6]. The leaves fall in November[6]. Twining plants, they can bind themselves so tightly round young trees that they can prevent the trunk from being able to expand[6]. A very good moth and butterfly plant[13], it is also an important food for many caterpillars including the larvae of the rare white admiral butterfly[6]. The dense growth of the plant offers good nesting possibilities for birds[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Altmann. H. Poisonous Plants and Animals. Chatto and Windus 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-7011-2526-8

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  3. 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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  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  5. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  6. Beckett. G. and K. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  7. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  11. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  13. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  15. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

    ↩

  16. Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-946284-51-2

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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