Garden Oracle / Drought and Heat Tolerant Gardening / Tucson - Phoenix - Arizona - California

Growing Lonicera americana:
American Woodbine

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Description
Form: A twining vine.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Leaf retention: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.
Mature Size: 20-25' (6-7.6m) long with a 3-4' (1-1.2m) spread.
Flowers: Long red tubes with white lobes that fade to pale yellow, very fragrant.
Bloom: Spring into fall.
Fruit: Red berries.
Leaves: Dark green, oval with a pointed tip.
Stems: Twining.
Roots: Non-invasive unless fertilized.
Wildlife: The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The berries attract birds.
Toxic / Danger: All parts of this plant are slightly poisonous.
Origin: Europe.

Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones: 7-10.
Heat tolerant: Yes.
Drought tolerant: Temperature dependant.
Sun: Full sun to part shade.
Soil: Well draining, tolerant of alkalinity and salinity. Do not fertilize to avoid rampant growth.
Water after becoming established: Monthly to weekly depending on temperature. Hummingbirds may want weekly irrigation to produce abundant nectar.
Mulch: To prevent shallow roots from heat damage. The roots must always be shaded from the sun.
Planting: Lonicera americana can be grown in a large container.
Prune: Trim this vine after flowering. In mid-winter remove dead vine build-up which can be a fire hazard. Cut it nearly to the ground after two years to start over. The cultivar 'Pam's Pink' can be trained into a shrub.
Litter: Moderate.
Propagation: Seed, cuttings or layering.
Pests: Honeysuckle Aphids, if they appear, can be controlled by insecticidal soap, hosing off, or by cutting off and burning the rolled leaves where the aphids hide in the winter.
Uses: Ornamental, wildlife garden, trellised screening.

Comments
Lonicera americana was created centuries ago, in Europe, as a hybrid of Lonicera ertusca and Lonicera caprifolium, which are European members of the Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). 'Pam's Pink' is a cultivar.
Members of the Lonicera genus are true honeysuckles. While some honeysuckles from North America and Asia are partly edible, all European honeysuckles are slightly poisonous,



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Lonicera americana: American Woodbine
Lonicera americana: cultivar 'Pam's Pink' Honeysuckle

Latest update: September, 2024
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