Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

honeysuckle climbing plants

Honeysuckle climbing plants are a wonderful choice for anyone looking to add colour, fragrance, and rapid growth to their New Zealand garden. These versatile climbers are famed for their ability to cover walls, fences, trellises, and pergolas with lush green foliage and highly fragrant, nectar-rich flowers that attract birds, bees, and butterflies. Whether you have a compact city courtyard or a large rural property, honeysuckle climbing plants are easy to cultivate, adaptable to various conditions, and require minimal maintenance once established.

Lonicera nitida

Lonicera nitida (Box Honeysuckle) is a dense, compact shrub valued for its small glossy leaves and excellent clipping response. Often used as a low hedge or topiary alternative to traditional box, it thrives in New Zealand conditions with minimal fuss. Its fine texture and neat growth habit make it ideal for structured gardens, borders, and foundation plantings. Lonicera nitida (Box Honeysuckle) offers year round greenery and reliable performance in a wide range of landscapes.

Buy Lonicera nitida

From $24.23

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 2.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas, Topiary

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern

Tecomaria capensis

Tecomaria capensis, commonly known as Cape Honeysuckle, this is a quick growing shrub renowned for its pretty flowers and foliage. Showy, orange flowers are borne above the lush, dark green foliage and are great for attracting birds and bees. In warmer climates the flowering is almost year-round but tends to be contained to spring and summer in cooler regions. It may also become deciduous in cooler regions. This sprawling shrub typically grows to 3 m tall and 2.5 m wide though can be pruned as necessary. Tecomaria capensis is commonly included in a mixed planting, planted around outdoor living areas, or planted to attract birds and butterflies.

Buy Tecomaria capensis

From $29.63

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 2.50 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Why Choose Honeysuckle Climbing Plants?

Honeysuckles are loved for their quick growth and enchanting scent. Their sweetly scented blooms come in shades of cream, yellow, pink, and red, providing a nectar resource for native pollinators. Many gardeners in New Zealand use honeysuckle climbing plants to create a living privacy screen or to add vertical interest to a bland wall. One standout variety is Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas', which produces masses of tubular, pale-yellow flowers from late spring to summer, followed by glossy berries in autumn.

Where to Plant Honeysuckle Climbers

For best results, plant your honeysuckle climbing plants in a sunny or partially shaded position with well-drained soil. They're particularly useful for training along fences, posts, or arches, but can just as happily scramble through established shrubs for a more natural look. Regular watering in the first year encourages healthy root development. Once established, honeysuckle climbing plants are relatively drought tolerant and can handle coastal conditions if given some shelter.

Care and Maintenance Tips

Pruning honeysuckle climbing plants after flowering keeps them tidy and encourages more blooms the following season. Basic pruning involves removing old or crowded stems and trimming back excess growth. Honeysuckles respond well to an annual feed with compost or a balanced fertiliser. Mulching around the root zone helps retain moisture through dry periods. Keep an eye out for aphids and powdery mildew—simple organic controls are usually all that's needed.

Companion Planting and Alternatives

Honeysuckle climbing plants pair beautifully with a range of garden companions. Try growing them with spring-flowering climbers or evergreen foliage for year-round interest. If you're seeking more climbing plants, consider Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig), an evergreen favourite for covering walls and structures with its small, glossy leaves. For a more tropical statement indoors, explore Rhaphidophora decursiva, or add structure and hedging with Lonicera nitida. For showy shrubs, Tecomaria capensis brings vibrant colour and resilience to coastal and urban landscapes.

Create a Fragrant, Flower-Filled Garden

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, honeysuckle climbing plants are a superb investment for gardens throughout New Zealand. Their charming flowers, heady scent, and ease of care make them popular for outdoor living spaces, wildlife gardens, and traditional cottage gardens alike. Explore our selection, including Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas', and enjoy the benefits of abundant blooms and the gentle perfume of honeysuckle for years to come.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.