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Click the Play arrow to hear Paul Parent and David Wilson as they discussed
Lonicera "Serotina" on the
The Paul Parent Garden Club radio show (March 25, 2007).
[12:14 minutes]
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ Putting the "honey" into honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ ('Serotina' Honeysuckle)
is an easy to grow, self-climbing, woody vine that creates a spectacular, long lasting
display of gorgeous flowers, and fills the air with a fabulous, sweet fragrance.
Click on the picture, or text link below the picture, for larger view
This is the plant that puts the “honey” in honeysuckle. Beloved by
Europeans for centuries and enjoyed by countless gardeners, this compact growing
and dependable garden performer has impressed, enchanted, and enthralled us in our
Garden Splendor® trials. Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’
is an excellent grower, has sumptuous flowers, and permeates the air with a
delectable, intoxicating fragrance. It was given an Award of Garden Merit by the
Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain in 1993.
Here is our own top 10 list - why it is an important part of our popular
Garden Splendor® line, and why it should be in your garden:
Delectable fragrance
Experience the sensational fragrance of a ‘Serotina’
honeysuckle in full flower, and you can stop reading this right now!
Continue reading and you'll discover it has many wonderful characteristics.
But, all of them pale once a plant in full flower is encountered and the
“heaven scent” fragrance is enjoyed.
Gorgeous flowers
Dark purplish-red buds open to form a cluster of 1½ inch long, tubular
flowers. They start out rich pomegranate-red, changing to pinkish-purple on
the outside. A flared and lobbed lip curls back to reveal a creamy
satin-white interior; as they mature, this gradually deepens to a golden,
honey-yellow to provide a delightful, multi-colored display.
Prolific floral display
The charming effect of a plant in full flower is stunning. The sheer
profusion of flower production is terrific; it is not an exaggeration to
say that established, well-grown plants are loaded with flowers. The combined
colors of the purple, red, and pink exteriors with the creamy white, honey
lipped interiors of the flowers are most appealing.
Long flowering period
The main blooming period occurs in early to midsummer with good re-bloom
taking place intermittently throughout the rest of the summer and lasting
until mid-autumn. A light trim after the main flush of flowering helps to
promote renewed flower production.
Vigorous, yet compact and bushy
This compact variety - growing eventually to a height of around 15 to 20
feet - is not a rangy climber, like many other honeysuckles. It is
great for training onto trellises, pergolas, arbors, fences, sides of
carports, and even onto small trees. It makes a fine screen and,
if given something to twine on, will provide valuable privacy or disguise
unattractive or unsightly features. It can also be used as groundcover,
scrambling over banks, covering old tree stumps, or allowed to
drape over the edges of low walls and retaining structures. When
regularly trimmed, it can also be maintained as a rounded bush or lower
growing vine. The trick is to prune a couple of times during the summer months,
trimming back the upward growing shoots to form shorter flowering laterals.
Hummingbird magnet
Hummingbirds, (like children through the ages), love to sip on the small
amounts of nectar at the base of the flowers, hence the name
honeysuckle. While we do not recommend it for children
in your garden, we certainly suggest that it be used to attract these
entertaining and glorious little winged visitors who will find the tubular
flowers irresistible.
Non-invasive
Unlike the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), this variety
does not spread rampantly and has not been found to be invasive.
Adaptable and easy to grow
It grows easily in a wide variety of soils types and is not fussy about
lime or acidic soils. It prefers a moist, loamy soil, but will easily adapt
and cope with most situations. It flowers best in full sun or partial shade.
Hardy
Proven hardy to USDA Zone 5, it is capable of withstanding almost anything
the weather in our region can throw at it.
No major pest or disease susceptibility
No major pest or disease problems have been observed.
Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ is a spectacular,
easy to grow, and highly reliable vine. It will bring a wonderful, fragrant dimension
to your yard.
Until next time, remember.... Enjoy your gardening. It's good for you!
