Lonicera periclymenum

If you want to support wildlife in your garden, reserve a spot for Lonicera pericylmenum, our native honeysuckle. A natural inhabitant of woodlands and hedgerows, it suits just the sort of shady, rooty corner amongst shrubs which you’re not sure what to do with. It’s a hugely valuable plant for a host of wildlife: bees, butterflies and moths, including rare species, are attracted to its nectar-rich flowers. Dormice also prize the sugary nectar as a high-energy food. Then in late summer and autumn, juicy clusters of glossy red berries provide a nutritious feast for many birds, including thrushes, warblers and bullfinches.

This vigorous, woody, deciduous climber will quickly scramble over fences and walls but isn’t as invasive as Japanese honeysuckle. All summer it produces trumpet-shaped creamy flowers, flushed pink on the outside, which gradually mature to yellowy orange. The flowers exude a heavy fragrance, especially in the evenings.

Ultimate height: 4–8 metres (13-26ft). Ultimate spread: 2.5–4 metres (8-13ft).

Plant height and spread is seasonal therefore we list by pot size rather than a defined plant size. The height and spread of the plant delivered will vary depending on the season, meaning arrival images are an indication only.