Gardening by Judith Adam Modern honeysuckles, flowering vines for any garden Honeysuckle vines (Lonicera spp.) are also known as woodbine, celebrated in literature and as hand-painted décor on the thinnest of bone china teacups. There are 180 known species of honeysuckle, and nine of them are indigenous to Canada. Many of the species are listed as wildflowers, and their flaring trumpet blossoms are often scented and carry drops of sweet nectar in their throats. All of them will grow and flower in part-shade to full-sun locations. The wild honeysuckles have one blooming period in spring and can be quite rampant, with vines requiring control in gardens. Hybridized honeysuckles have been bred with shortened vine lengths and ever-blooming displays, from late spring through autumn. They are fancy flowers, making a splash of flared trumpet petals with vivid colouring requiring only simple support. Two that give a vivid display are ‘Major Wheeler’ – growing eight to 10 feet, with dense clusters of deep scarlet flowers (but no scent) and ‘Gold Flame’ – growing 10 to 15 feet, with scented pink flower tubes flaring open to show a peachy yellow interior. The vines require little space for climbing as their path is not straight up, but in pliable horizontal branching that is easily wrapped around and anchored to any frame or fence. Honeysuckle vines are short enough to wind around a small trellis or drape across a pergola and can even been supported by a sturdy tomato cage and bamboo canes. Hummingbirds love these blooms and will visit them frequently throughout the day. The key to getting repeat bloom through the summer is to cut back flowering stems when the first flower flush is finished. Shorten flowering branches by about a quarter of their length, and that will trigger enough growth from remaining bud in leaf axils to form new flowers. As with all flowering plants, be sure to provide regular water. Strategies for the Changing Weather in Your Garden Preparing for days in a warmer climate, take some time to review how the garden tolerated the heat wave of the past summer. New strategies for sustaining plants through excessive heat and rain will be necessary going forward. But be assured that you can sweeten the deal next summer by planting an old-fashioned, always beautiful flowering vine. 44 | www.snowbirds.org
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