Lonicera

New Zealand’s Best Lonicera Plants

Adding colourful shrubs and climbers to your garden delivers a vast range of benefits:

• They are visual plants that add impact to a space
• They attract birds and bees
• Street appeal can be greatly enhanced
• Children can learn the plants and become more involved with nature
• These plants will bring you pleasure for many years to come

We have the largest variety of Honeysuckle plants and the right one for your space. These have been selected to thrive in NZ’s climate. We grow and stock only the highest quality plants, sourcing them locally, and from NZ’s leading nurseries. Each plant is packed and transported with extreme care, ensuring it arrives to you in the same condition it was in when it left the nursery. If you are wanting to buy Lonicera, shop with confidence from the best in the industry.

Common questions about growing Lonicera

1. Is Lonicera the same as honeysuckle?

Lonicera is the scientific name for the genus of plants commonly known as honeysuckle. There are over 180 species of Lonicera, which are native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Honeysuckle plants can be either deciduous or evergreen, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small shrubs to large vines.

2. What is Honeysuckle known for?

Honeysuckle plants are known for their fragrant flowers, which can be white, yellow, pink, orange, or red. Honeysuckle flowers are also a valuable food source for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

In addition to their ornamental value, honeysuckle plants are also used for a variety of other purposes. For example, the fruit of some species of Lonicera is edible and can be used to make jams, pies, and other sweet treats. The bark of some species of Lonicera is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

3. Which Lonicera is best?

The best Lonicera for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Here are a few of the more popular Lonicera cultivars:

• Lonicera 'Belgica' is a deciduous vine with fragrant yellow and violet flowers. It is a vigorous grower and can reach up to 5 m tall.
• Lonicera 'Aureoreticulata' is an evergreen vine with variegated leaves and white flowers. It can reach up to 3 m tall.
• Lonicera nitida 'Baggesen's Gold' is a deciduous shrub with golden leaves and white flowers. It is a compact shrub that grows to be about 1 m tall and wide.
• Lonicera fragrantissima is a deciduous shrub with fragrant white flowers in winter. It is a slow grower and can reach up to 3 m tall and wide.
• Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' is an evergreen vine with red and yellow flowers. It is a vigorous grower and can reach up to 6 m tall.

4. What is the strongest smelling honeysuckle?

The strongest smelling honeysuckle is a matter of opinion, but some of the most popular and fragrant varieties include:

• Lonicera x periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'
• Lonicera heckrottii 'Gold Flame'
• Lonicera fragrantissima
• Lonicera sempervirens
• Lonicera japonica 'Aureoreticulata'

These varieties are all known for their sweet, intoxicating fragrance, which can fill the air with its scent on a warm summer evening.

5. What is the longest blooming honeysuckle?

The longest blooming honeysuckle is the Major Wheeler honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'). It is an evergreen vine that produces clusters of red and yellow flowers from late spring to early autumn.

Other long-flowering varieties include:

• Lonicera sempervirens 'Coral'.
• Lonicera heckrottii 'Goldflame'.
• Lonicera 'Graham Thomas'.
• Lonicera 'Serotina'.
• Lonicera sempervirens 'Magnifica'.

6. Which honeysuckle smells like jasmine?

The Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is the variety of honeysuckle that smells most like Jasmine. It is a fast-growing evergreen vine with white or cream-colored flowers that bloom from spring to fall. The Japanese honeysuckle has a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that is similar to jasmine, but it also has a hint of citrus. The fragrance is strongest in the evening.