Lonicera etrusca
Etruscan honeysuckle
A vigorous, woody, deciduous or semi-evergreen twining climber to 4m tall, with purplish young shoots and oval, mid-green to grey-green downy leaves. Tubular, 2-lipped, fragrant, red-flushed, creamy flowers 5cm long age to yellow, and are produced early to midsummer, followed by red berries
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Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Green | Grey Silver Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Cream Red Yellow | Grey Silver Green | ||
| Autumn | Grey Silver Green | Red | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Caprifoliaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous or Semi evergreen
- Habit
- Climbing
- 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
This climbing honeysuckle grows best in 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
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Climber and wall shrubs
- 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)
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