Growing Wild Honeysuckle

Overview

Wild honeysuckle evokes the childhood pleasure of searching for the single dewdrop of sweet liquid at the center of the flower. Honeysuckles are hardy, heat-tolerant plants that are easy to grow in most climates. Their sweet scent attracts great numbers of hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. They grow beautifully along a trellis or fence and reduce erosion as ground cover. The easiest and most cost-effective way to start a wild honeysuckle plant is to use a fellow gardener's cutting.

Step 1

Take a cutting. Snip a non-flowering vine with two pairs of leaves and four nodules. Place in a vase of water near indirect sunlight and watch roots begin to form. Once several roots have reached 3 to 4 inches in length, the cutting is ready to be planted.

Step 2

Find the right location in your yard. Honeysuckles prefer full sun but will tolerate partial shade. They can be planted near a fence or wall to encourage upward growth or used for ground cover. Either way, look for an area with plenty of room for them to expand.

Step 3

Dig a hole wide enough to spread the roots and deep enough to cover the roots with 1 inch of soil.

Step 4

Plant your honeysuckle. Place the cutting in the center of the hole and evenly spread the roots without bending any. Cover with 1-2 inches of soil. If planting multiple plants, leave 2 feet of room between each.

Step 5

Water immediately. Fully soak the ground where your new honeysuckle is planted. Continue with heavy watering until the plant shows signs of new growth. Once established, honeysuckles need occasional watering as long as there is sufficient rainfall. Never let the roots fully dry out.

Step 6

Spread mulch around the base of the plant. This will protect your honeysuckle from weeds and help keep moisture in the soil.

Step 7

Fertilize. A light application of balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) should be applied twice during the blooming season.