We grow around 24 varieties and species of Lonicera, including three shrubby varieties as distinct from the well known climbing plants. Cultivation is relatively straightforward, with all benefiting from an annual mulch in a wide ring around the plant in November and the shortening of flowering shoots by a third of their length in the winter. The winter flowering L.fragrantissima is pruned in May.

Climbing Lonicera

L.americana Syn. L.italica. A very good garden plant,evergreen all year round,often flowers right through the winter, excessively fragrant in the cream tubular flowers with a blush of pink.foliage deep waxy green	D
L.belgica Orange to pink flowers fill gardens in the North London suburbs in May in style. The first to flower	C
L.brownii Dropmore Scarlet A real eyecatcher, bright orange red flowers liven up the dull spot in any garden. As the plant matures the mass of bloom increases in size. Evergreen	D
L.caprifolium Native to the UK. Cream flowers, heavily fragrant with sweet spicy scents. Pleasing sage green foliage and red stems both smothered in fine grey hair	C
L.japonica aureaticulata Pretty leaves of deep green with dominant bright yellow veins turning bright red in the spring and autumn. Flowers well if grown in a hot spot	D
L. japonica Halliana (Halls Prolific) Smothered with small cream flowers from June to November and a heavenly scent. Evergreen, growing vigorously to 3m. A honeysuckle that delivers everything	D
L. Mandarin A superb variety with red stems, grey leaves and bright mandarin orange flowers with the same fragrance. A stunning addition to a group of plants which rarely offers anything new	F
L. periclymenum Graham Thomas The standard yellow/cream lonicera, with long flowering large flowers and good scent. Vigorous, nearly evergreen	D
L.similis delaveyii Leaves of deep bottle green in winter, with huge scented cream/yellow flowers in July. Although this variety does not flower for as long as Halliana (the standard evergreen), I prefer it to Halliana	F
Tellmeniana Luminous light orange flowers cover this plant during May to July. Vigorous growth with a bronze cast to the large leaves. Good reputation as shade tolerant; it flowers quite well on the north side of our fence	E
L.periclymenum Heaven Scent Fine cream variety which flowers all summer and unlike other Lonicera is fragrant throughout the day. Leaves are a pleasant mid green and stay on the plant into the winter. First raised about 5 years ago	E
L.periclymenum serotina Well known later flowering summer pinky/red honeysuckle, although I prefer Florida (see below)	B
Florida Sage green leaves in early spring, with deep wine red reverse. Stunning wine red trumpets opening to reveal honey coloured throats with a strong heavenly fragrance all borne on deep wine red stems. Compact to 2.5m	E
L. tragaphylla 6m stems bear quite waxy, light jade green leaves which provide the perfect foil for the large cream flowers smothering the plant in May and June	F

Shrub Lonicera

L. fragrantissima (Purpusii) Winter flowering shrub to 1.8 x 1.8m, with arching wands bearing white sweet pea-shaped flowers from October to April. Strong fragrance. Cut the stems 5 days before Christmas for table decoration	F
Silver Beauty A form of L.nitida sporting silver edges on light grey leaves	A
L.syringantha As the name implies this shrub has lilac-shaped flowers, with a heavy fragrance in May. Narrow leaves of bright mid green. Cut the stems back by 60cm after flowering to keep a good shape	D