This early-flowering and long-blooming shrub emits a strong, sweet fragrance.
The best time to plant a winter honeysuckle seedling is in late winter to early spring.
However, it should be planted with caution as it is considered invasive in many states of the South.
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Plant Attributes
Is Winter Honeysuckle Invasive?
It is fast-growing and develops into thickets that restrict native plant growth.
The seeds are dispersed by wildlife.
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Check with your local extension office before planting a fragrant honeysuckle.
If in doubt, consider planting native plants such as aflowering dogwoodornative azaleainstead.
Winter Honeysuckle Care
The New Southern Living Garden Bookrecommends that gardeners “provide good drainage.
Honeysuckles typically need some thinning; ideal time for the job is after bloom.
Cut old, straggling honeysuckles to the ground before spring growth begins; they will regrow rapidly.
Generally free of serious pests, though aphids sometimes infest them.”
Soil
This honeysuckle will adapt to just about any well-drained soil regardless of pH.
Winter honeysuckle is especially happy in moist, loamy soils, but does not do well in wet conditions.
Water
This plant tolerates occasional dryness but prefers moderately moist soil.
Water during longer dry periods.
Fertilizer
Winter honeysuckle adapts to soils with average fertility.
If the soil is poor, amend it with organic material prior to planting.
The shrub blooms in winter or early spring on growth from the prior year.
Clip into a hedge or cut back close to the groundright after flowering.
Propagating Winter Honeysuckle
Winter honeysuckle can be propagated with softwood cuttings.
Seeds are usually dispersed by birds eating the fruit and do not germinate until the following year.
A warm period followed by cold stratification is required for winter honeysuckle to grow from seed.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Winter honeysuckle has no serious disease or pest problems.
Leaf spot, blight, andpowdery mildeware unlikely to harm the plant.
Severe cases can be treated with fungicide.
They emit a sweet fragrance that’s one of the first intimations of spring in Southern gardens.
Failure to bloom is often due to lack of sunlight or improper pruning.
For the best flowering, provide plenty of sunshine and limit pruning to right after the shrub flowers.
The flowers of winter honeysuckle are lemon-scented and highly fragrant.
The smell is often described as clean and spring-like.
NC State Extension.Lonicera fragrantissima.
