Red Honeysuckle Lonicera Sempervivens Blanche Sandman

Appearance

• This flower produces umbels of 2-inch, tubular flowers in May and June. It continues to flower sporadically throughout the summer and fall. The vine bears bluish-green, 1- to 2-inch leaves. Orange-red berries form in late summer to early fall. This vine grows 10 to 20 feet and has a spread of 3 to 6 feet. It grows in USDA zones 4 to 9. While generally deciduous, it retains some of its leaves in winter in zones 8 and 9.

Culture

• Plant this easy-to-grow vine in fertile, humus-rich soil that drains well. It thrives in full or partial sun. During the growing season, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every month. Provide a support structure for this twining vine. Prune your honeysuckle after flowering by cutting back the flowered shoots to stronger lower shoots or buds. You can prune established vines more extensively by removing old shoots to the base to promote new growth. Honeysuckles are easy to transplant.

Landscape Use

• Grow Blanche Sandman honeysuckle as an ornamental plant in your garden. You can plant it as a quick covering vine for trellises, arbors and fences. You can also use it to cover a bank. The flowers attract ruby-throated hummingbirds, and the fall berries attract cedar waxwings, cardinals and finches. Grow this large vine in a small garden where it may use only 1 square foot of ground. You can clip climbers to maintain an appropriate shape in the space provided.

Problems

• No serious insect or disease problems occur with this honeysuckle. Powdery mildew may develop in hot and humid summer climates. You may treat it with a fungicide. Spray the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, covering them thoroughly. Repeat treatments every seven to 14 days. Always follow the directions on the product label carefully. Contact your cooperative extension office for more information. Watch for pests such as leaf rollers, aphids and scale insects.