We bought our first trumpet honeysuckle vines when we wanted to attract hummingbirds to our yard and we were not disappointed. It acts like a hummingbird magnet and we can count on those winged visitors almost every day throughout the summer. We have two vines that grow on either side of a arbor and meet in the center, providing a pretty entry gate for our garden. The one that receives more sun produces more flowers but both are beautiful and give off a lovely fragrance that we enjoy in the evenings while sitting on a nearby bench. Even in winter this semi evergreen vine is attractive. This honeysuckle is well behaved and a good garden resident, unlike its Asian cousin, Japanese honeysuckle, that is invasive and can take over a large area in a short time.
Type: Evergreen or semi evergreen twining vine.
Bloom: Yellow-orange-red 2” long tubular long flowers are borne in clusters from late spring through summer with heaviest bloom in spring.
Foliage: Simple, opposite, oval, leaves with white underside. New leaves are tinged with purple but turn bluish green as they mature.
Size: 10-20’ L x 3-6’ W.
Light: Prefers full sun but tolerates some shade (but with less flowers).
Soil: Average, medium, well-drained.
Fertilizer: Fertilize only when necessary. Too much fertilizer can result in vegetative growth at the expense of flowers.
Hardiness: Zones 4-9.
Care: Blooms on previous years stems so prune in the spring immediately after blooming.
Pests and Diseases: Aphids and powdery mildew (when grown in shady areas) can be problems.
Propagation: Seed (must be stratified); softwood or semi-softwood cuttings.
Outstanding Selection: ‘Leo’.
Karen Meyers