Lonicera japonica 'Chinensis' is a beautiful purple-flushed form of the well-known Japanese honeysuckle, widely grown in cooler regions.
Its foliage is usually evergreen, slightly tinged with rich purple hues, providing the perfect backdrop for its long-lasting display of highly fragrant white flowers flushed with deep pink. After flowering, small fleshy purple-black berries develop, although they are not edible
This exceptionally vigorous climber develops rapidly, making it an excellent choice for covering large fences and unsightly structures. And like clematis, it requires very little maintenance and thrives with its top growth in gentle sun and its roots kept cool and shaded in moist, ordinary garden soil.
Flowering
May, June
Exposure
Half Sun/Half Shade
Frost Tolerance
-10°C to -15°C
Size
5m H x 2.5m W
Soil
Cool, Nutrient-Dense, Well-Draining
Origin
Eastern Asia
€18,00
6 left
🪴9x9 cm
🚂 Ships across EU 🌱 Grown in our nursery
❄️ Evergreen types may lose some leaves in severe cold.
🌱 Mulch young plants.
✂️ Prune late winter after 2-3 years of steady growth
🦋 Provides nectar, pollen, shelter, and nesting sites.
🦗 The climbing habit creates vertical habitat layers, increasing garden biodiversity.
The fruit/seed heads provide winter food for birds.
Gardening Tips
Support Structure:
🌿 Lonicera climbs best on thin vertical supports such as wires, poles, string, or other plant stems.
⛔The stems cannot grip flat surfaces or very thick posts.
Place a drought tolerant shrub at the base of your vines - they will keep the soil cool for Lonicera to flower all summer long
The Botany
Native to eastern Asia, Japanese honeysuckle is a woody climbing plant in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).
The cultivar 'Chinensis' is a distinctive selection with almost hairless foliage that is lightly tinted with purple.
Its natural vigour allows stems to reach over 10 metres (33 feet) in length, so occasional pruning is recommended to keep growth under control.
In terms of disease, we're generally looking at:
Powdery mildew — very common in dry conditions > ensure roots stay moist while foliage has air flow
Aphids — cluster on shoot tips causing distortion> blast with water or diluted alcohol, encourage predators
Leaf spot — fungal spots in wet seasons; mostly cosmetic > improve air circulation
Leaf blight — browning and dieback of shoots > prune out affected growth