How to Propagate Coral Honeysuckle

Overview

Coral honeysuckle, also called Lonicera sempervirens, is a vigorous vine native to the United States. It is easily recognizable, especially from April into the summer when it blooms with coral-colored trumpet-shaped flowers set against dark green foliage. Coral honeysuckle does not root easily or dependably from seed, so if you want to produce another plant the easiest way is to grow one from a softwood or semi-hardwood cutting.

Step 1

Take a softwood or a semi-hardwood cutting from the coral honeysuckle vine in summer or early fall. Look for new growth from this season that is not yet mature or has just matured. From the tip of the vine include four leaf nodes, which are the points where the leaves attach to the stem. Make a diagonal cut right below the fourth node.

Step 2

Wrap the bottom of the cutting with a damp paper towel to keep it moist during transportation until planting.

Step 3

Fill a small pot with a rooting medium such as a mixture of peat and perlite. This will provide a well-drained but stable setting for the cutting.

Step 4

Strip the two sets of leaves closest to your cut off the vine. Dip this bottom end in rooting hormone to improve its chances of rooting successfully.

Step 5

Push the coral honeysuckle cutting into the pot about 1/3 of its length. Press the potting medium down around its base so it will stay upright.

Step 6

Water the cutting and place the pot in partial sun. Loosely cover the pot with a clear plastic bag to increase humidity. Keep the cutting evenly moist and watch for signs of independent growth in one to two weeks.

Step 7

Transplant the honeysuckle vine into a larger pot, or outdoors if it is summer or early fall, once it begins growing vigorously on its own. Use the same type of potting medium if you decide to transplant it to larger pots. Provide plenty of water to the vine during the transition, keeping it evenly moist until it adapts to its new environment.