Serotina Fragrant Honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina‘

Other Common Names: Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Woodbine ‘Serotina’, European Honeysuckle

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 5a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Vine

Height or Length at Maturity: 8-20′ depending on height of support structure

Width at Maturity: 3-6′

Suggested Spacing: 3-4′ apart to cover fences or other structures

Growth Habit / Form: Climbing, Twining, Mounding, Spreading/Trailing

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: Crimson Red to Magenta buds opening with Yellow and White throats

Flower Type: Single, trumpet-shaped, in clusters

Flower Size: 2″ long

Flowering Period: Late Spring or Early Summer to First Frost!

Fragrant Flowers: Yes

Foliage Color: Blue-Green leaves on Crimson-Purple stems

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes (Red)

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun or Part Shade

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amend heavy clay to ensure good drainage), Loam, Sandy, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist but Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.0 – 8.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-20F / Zones 5-9), Disease, Drought (moderate when established), Insect

Description

The Serotina Honeysuckle Vine is a recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit for many good reasons. If hummingbirds could vote to award their favorite flowers, this one would be at or near the top of the list. Serotina is way more behaved and has a slower growth rate than other Lonicera species, eventually reaching 8 to 20 feet tall depending on the height of the support structure. In late spring abundant clusters of showy, elongated crimson-red to magenta buds begin forming at the tips of every stem on the vine. In early summer these buds begin opening to deliciously honey-scented tubular flowers that are crimson on the outside with white throats maturing to golden yellow, resulting in a tricolor effect. The flowers keep coming all the way to frost. Following the flowers are an equal abundance of bright red berries the songbirds will enjoy. Both the flowers and berries stand out beautifully against attractive, dark blue-green leaves, which are evergreen in the southern range where winters are mild.

Serotina Honeysuckle does not cling to walls and other surfaces, however it will grow up and on just about anything that provides its vines something to twine around. If you don’t have a trellis, arch, pergola or other structure suitable for this vine to grow on, it can also be grown as an attractive mounding shrub or very pretty groundcover. Its smaller size makes it suitable for growing on an obelisk trellis or other support in pots, planters and other containers and in smaller gardens where space is limited.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Climbing 8 to 20 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, Serotina Honeysuckle is a more well-behaved variety ideal for use to grow on fences, rails, posts, mailboxes, trellises, trees and other structures or supports its vines can twine around. Also makes for a nice groundcover plant and spiller over walls. A fine addition to hummingbird gardens, cottage gardens and fragrance gardens.

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 4 feet apart to cover fences or other structures

Growing Preferences

Serotina Honeysuckle is easily grown in a moist but well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to light shade. The vine produces more flowers and is more vigorous in full sun. We suggest at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day and morning sun to dry the dew from the leaves. That said, in climates with very hot summers the vine will appreciate some shade or filtered sun during the midafternoon hours in summer. We’ve seen no serious pest or disease problem provided the vine receives morning sun. Quite drought tolerant when established and hardy in USDA Zones 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts for how to plant, prune, fertilize and water Honeysuckle vines.

How To Plant And Care For A Honeysuckle Vine

How To Train Vines To Grow On A Fence, Trellis, Pergola, Post, Wall Or Other Structure

Hummingbird Garden Design Tips

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!