Lonicera periclymenum
Common name: Common honeysuckle · European honeysuckle · woodbine
Lonicera periclymenum is a deciduous twining climber native to much of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It produces clusters of strongly fragrant, creamy-white to yellowish flowers often flushed with red or purple, followed by glossy red berries. Long beloved in gardens and hedgerows, it is valued for its evening scent and its appeal to moths and other pollinators.
Care summary
Sun
Partial shade; roots cool, top in light sun
Water
Regular; keep evenly moist, avoid drying out
Soil
Humus-rich, moist but well-drained
Hardiness
Zones 5–9
Mature height
About 400–700 cm (13–23 ft) as a climbing vine
Pet safe
No — berries are mildly toxic if eaten
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or hardwood cuttings in autumn and root them in gritty, moist compost. Simple layering is also reliable: peg a flexible stem into the soil beside the plant and separate it the following season.
Fun facts
- The old name "woodbine" comes from its habit of binding itself around trees and shrubs in woodlands.
- Its flowers are pollinated mainly by night-flying moths, which is why the scent is strongest at dusk.
- Shakespeare mentioned woodbine in A Midsummer Night's Dream, twining it around Titania's bower.
- Popular cultivars include 'Serotina' (late Dutch honeysuckle) and 'Belgica' (early Dutch honeysuckle).