Lonicera hispidula
pink honeysuckle
A deciduous to semi-evergreen woody, twining climber from North America, about 6m tall, with bluish-green oval leaves. Large pink or purple tubular flowers are produced in clusters during spring and summer, followed by red berries
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple | Blue Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple | Blue Green | ||
| Autumn | Blue Green | Red | ||
| Winter | Blue Green |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing, Trailing
- Potentially harmful
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- 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
Correct
How to grow
Cultivation
Climbing honeysuckles grow best in partial shade but tolerate 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
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Banks and slopes
- Climber and wall shrubs
- Ground cover
- 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
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.