Lonicera japonica 'Horwood Gem' (v)
Vigorous, woody, semi-evergreen twining climber about 10m tall, with paired, often deeply lobed, dark green leaves, 8cm long, mottled and variegated creamy-yellow. Very fragrant, tubular 2-lipped white flowers, 4cm long, flushed purple, and aging to yellow, are produced in pairs from the leaf axils over a long period from summer to autumn, followed by blue-black berries
Size
Ultimate height
8–12 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
4–8 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Cream Yellow | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | White Yellow | Green Cream Yellow | ||
| Autumn | White Yellow | Green Cream Yellow | Blue Black | |
| Winter | Green Cream Yellow |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing
- Potentially harmful
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Lonicera can be deciduous and evergreen shrubs, or climbers with twining stems. The tubular or two-lipped flowers, often very fragrant, are followed by red or black berries
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act (Northern Ireland) as an invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause these to grow in the wild IN NORTHERN IRELAND. Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information Climbing honeysuckles grow best in partial shade but tolerates full sun, and thrives in any fertile, moist but well-drained soil. See honeysuckle (climbing) cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by layering, softwood cuttings, semi-ripe cuttings, leaf-bud cuttings and hardwood cuttings
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Wildlife gardens
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Hedging and screens
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Pruning group 11 after flowering
Pests
May be susceptible to honeysuckle aphids, Thrips and glasshouse whitefly
Diseases
May be susceptible to powdery mildews, fungal leaf spot, silver leaf and honey fungus (rarely)
Get involved
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