With their deliciously sweet scent and vibrant abundant blooms, honeysuckle vines are a gardener’s dream. Also known as Lonicera these flowering vines bring wonderful fragrance, color, and wildlife appeal when allowed to climb fences, trellises, and arbors. If you’re looking to add honeysuckle to your landscape, you may be wondering – where can I buy these captivating vines?
In this article, we’ll explore the top places to purchase honeysuckle plants for your garden or yard. Whether buying in person or online, you’ll find helpful tips for finding high-quality, healthy honeysuckle specimens from reputable suppliers. Let’s look at where to source these sensational climbers!
Buying Honeysuckle at Local Nurseries and Garden Centers
One excellent option for buying honeysuckle vines is visiting your local independent nursery or garden center. These retailers offer some key advantages when shopping for plants in person:
-
You can see and select specific plants rather than ordering sight unseen. Inspect leaves, stems, and roots for health.
-
Ask questions and get planting advice from knowledgeable staff. Discuss the best honeysuckle types for your needs.
-
Avoid shipping damage and transplant shock since you’ll take plants straight home.
-
Purchase proven varieties known to thrive in your growing zone and climate. Local sources sell plants suited for your area.
-
Support small, local businesses! Independent nurseries need your business.
Look for retailers with a robust selection of honeysuckle varieties labeled with details like plant type, size, bloom color, light needs, etc. This makes it easier to select the right vine.
Ordering Honeysuckle Plants Online
Can’t find honeysuckle locally? Ordering plants online opens up many more possibilities! Reputable online nurseries offer benefits like:
-
Wider selection of plant varieties, sizes, and prices. Order more unique types.
-
Convenience of buying from home and getting plants shipped to your door.
-
Avoidance of impulsive purchases – you can carefully review options and order just what you need.
-
Comparison of multiple nurseries to find the best plants, prices, and policies.
-
Reviews and ratings from past customers help identify the most trusted vendors.
When ordering online, look for established nurseries with strong reputations, fair policies, and healthy shipping practices. Be sure honeysuckle types match your growing zone too!
What to Look for When Buying Honeysuckle Plants
Whether shopping online or in person, keep an eye out for these signs of high quality honeysuckle:
-
Healthy roots – Roots should be plentiful but not pot-bound, moist, and white or cream colored.
-
Robust stems and branches – Look for sturdy, flexible canes free of damage, disease, or pests.
-
Lush green leaves – Foliage should be vibrant, disease-free, and free of pests or yellowing.
-
Good energy reserves – Select plants that aren’t blooming yet so energy goes to establishing roots.
-
Labels – Ensure plants are identified with details like variety, size, bloom color, etc.
-
Reputation – Buy from reputable sources known for selling healthy, viable plants.
-
Warranty – Some sellers offer guarantees if plants fail to establish.
Buying from suppliers who sell sturdy, vigorous plants and who answer questions sets your honeysuckle up for success!
Popular Types of Honeysuckle to Grow
With over 180 honeysuckle species, it helps to know which types best suit your landscape needs. Here are some top options to consider when buying:
Japanese Honeysuckle
With lush foliage and heavily perfumed white blooms tinged yellow, Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a classic choice. Despite the name, it’s native to China and grows best in warmer southern zones. It has a very long season of bloom.
Trumpet Honeysuckle
Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is native across much of the eastern U.S. and thrives nationwide. Known for vibrant red tubular blooms, it attracts hummingbirds. Variety ‘Alabama Crimson’ is prized for its rich color and scent.
Grape Honeysuckle
Grape honeysuckle (L. reticulata) has attractive berries and is native to parts of the Midwest and Northeast. It is great for colder zones. ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’ features unusual pale blooms and red fruit. A bonus – it’s deer resistant!
Goldflame Honeysuckle
A showstopper, Goldflame honeysuckle (L. x heckrottii) has abundant orange-scarlet blooms with yellow interiors. It thrives in zones 5-9, reblooms through summer, and is mildew resistant.
Amur Honeysuckle
For northern gardeners, Amur honeysuckle (L. maackii) is an excellent choice, unfazed by harsh winters. The white and pink flowers bloom in late spring, followed by red berries for wildlife.
Milestone Honeysuckle
A FloorCovering Weekly achievement honoree, Milestone honeysuckle (L. Megapotamica) offers unique bicolor blooms, with pink outsides and bright yellow-orange centers. It’s heat and humidity tolerant.
Where to Buy Locally: Nurseries With Great Selection
To find top-quality honeysuckle vines locally, here are some reputable American nurseries to check out based on their impressive selection:
-
Forestfarm in Williams, OR – Specializes in native plants like western honeysuckle.
-
Joy Creek Nursery in Scappoose, OR – Offers many Lonicera species and unusual varieties.
-
Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC – Carries a diverse collection of rare, specialty honeysuckles.
-
Roots Nursery in Oregon City, OR – Great selection of Japanese honeysuckle cultivars.
-
Territorial Seed Company in Cottage Grove, OR – Known for Pacific Northwest natives like twinberry (L. involucrata).
Call ahead to confirm availability if searching for a specific honeysuckle variety. Local experts can also provide planting and care advice tailored to your climate.
Recommended Mail Order and Online Nurseries
Can’t make it to a local nursery? No worries! Here are some top online retailers offering an outstanding selection of healthy honeysuckle vines:
-
Bluestone Perennials – Reliable source for many Lonicera species, sizes, and cultivars.
-
Nature Hills Nursery – Diverse selection including unusual varieties like ‘Scentsation’ and ‘Mandarin.’
-
Spring Hill Nursery – Wide range of popular types suitable for zones 4-9.
-
Stark Bro’s Nurseries – Known for high-quality, hardy fruiting and ornamental honeysuckle.
-
White Flower Farm – Reputed source offering trumpet honeysuckle and fragrant Lonicera varieties.
-
Wilson Bros Gardens – Unique options like the early-blooming L. tragophylla.
Reputable online sellers safely ship dormant bare root or potted plants nationwide. Order in spring or fall for best results.
Get Ready to Enjoy Gorgeous, Sweetly Fragrant Honeysuckle!
With stunning blossoms and unbeatable scent, honeysuckle vines are prized garden additions. We explored great sources like local nurseries and trusted online sellers to help you find and purchase top-quality plants. Soon you’ll get to enjoy the rewards as honeysuckle’s lush foliage and abundant blooms grace your arbors, fences, and trellises! Just be sure to plant these vigorous growers where their growth can spread freely. In no time, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing – and smelling – these beauties transform your landscape.
Planting & Care for Deciduous Shrub – Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle Plants
- This honeysuckle plant does really well when planted in groups near the understory of a forest or on sloped areas in your yard.
- Contributes to better erosion control.
- Can be planted in sandy and dry soil areas.
- Usually a plant that doesn’t need much care, doesn’t get pests, and can handle heavy soils. Mature growth is around 3-4 tall and wide.
- They like full sun or partial shade.
- They like humus-rich, well-drained sandy loam, or clay loam soils.
- Bare Root: Cut the bundle open (the top and roots are tied together) and take each plant out on its own. Soak roots in buckets of water until planted. Each plant type will be labeled separately for identification. The roots should never dry out, so don’t put them out in the sun. All bare-root plants must be trimmed when planted.
- Containers: Fill all of your plants with water by putting them in a bigger container of water until the bubbling stops. To start, take out the plant and dig a hole that is at least as deep as the pot but no more than 6 inches wider on all sides.
- Plant bare roots in fall. If you can still work the ground, that’s a good sign that you can still plant. If a hard frost is expected, hold off on planting.
- Make a hole that is at least 6″ wider and as deep as the root ball. There should be a little more space between the plant’s crown or graft and the ground where it was grown in the nursery.
- Trim off the broken roots and branches.
- Place fertilizer packets in the hole (if purchased). Do not place other fertilizers in the planting hole. *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Spread the roots out and fill the hole halfway with soil. Then, water the soil and planting hole until it is completely settled.
- Move the plant back into place and fill in the hole with more soil.
- Backfill the balance of the soil and water well.
- Tap on the bottom of the pot to help the plant come out.
- Cut 2″ off the bottom of the root ball of plants that come in plastic containers with a shovel or knife.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops. Place the root ball in the hole.
- Look at how the tree’s trunk flares out at the base. This is called the root flare. This root flare should show when the tree is planted. If you need to, put soil under the ball to show the root flare.
- If you bought fertilizer, put the packets in the bottom of the hole. *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Put soil back into the hole, making sure that the top of the root ball can be seen and is slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
- Bare Root: Cut back ALL bare root plants to avoid transplant shock and make sure they do well. Pruning should be done before planting or as soon as possible after. All pruning should be done with a sharp pruning shears.
- Containers: You don’t have to prune Dwarf Honeysuckles after planting them in containers, but light pruning can make them look better. This gets rid of any broken branches that might have been there before shipping or thins out a plant with a lot of branches to make it easier to move and improve the look of your new planting.
- Remember that bush honeysuckle can easily grow back if you cut it down to the ground in the spring.
- It usually takes plants about six weeks to grow new roots in the soil. Water plants at least once a week during this time, or as often as every two to four days at first.
- After the six-week establishment period, water once a week unless it rains.
- Stick your finger about 3” into the ground to check the soil’s moisture.
- After the first season, plants should only be watered when it doesn’t rain for a long time.
- If you want to know if your plants need water, just touch the soil around their roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it’s dry, soak it with the end of the hose that doesn’t have a nozzle. Only water the soil, not the leaves.
- Like when you plant, stick your finger about 3″ into the soil to see how wet it is.
Are there different types of bush honeysuckle?
Yes, there’s a diverse range of honeysuckle shrubs, each celebrated for their unique characteristics.
Popular variants can be from native honeysuckles from the west to Asian bush honeysuckles from the east. (e. g. , Japanese honeysuckle, Tartarian honeysuckle, amur honeysuckle, northern bush honeysuckle).
Among the various types, the Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle is particularly popular, especially for those with limited gardening space. People love these types because they grow very closely together, which makes them great for smaller gardens, patios, or border plants.
What are the benefits of planting Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle in my garden?
Plantain Dwarf Honeysuckles attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, contributing to the health of your garden ecosystem.
When planted en masse, Dwarf Honeysuckle can help stabilize soil, preventing erosion effectively. This makes it an excellent choice for slopes or areas prone to soil degradation.
Remember that bush honeysuckle is an invasive species that can kill native plants if it is planted in the wrong way.
What do invasive Bush Honeysuckles do?
Bush honeysuckle species that are not native to North America are more likely to spread to other ecosystems and become invasive. These invasive types tend to grow quickly, pushing out native plants and changing the way habitats are built, which can throw the ecosystem out of balance.
To prevent these issues, its crucial to select species that are native or non-invasive to your specific region. Talking to gardening experts, extension services, or ecological resources in your area can help you pick the right types of bush honeysuckle for your garden without hurting the local wildlife.
How can I propagate Dwarf Honeysuckle?
Bush honeysuckle can be propagated through several methods, including softwood cuttings, layering, and division. A common and effective way to spread these plants is to take cuttings in the spring or early summer and root them in a mix of damp soil.
Can bush honeysuckle be grown in pots?
Yes, you can! Dwarf types of Bush Honeysuckle, like the Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle and dwarf honeysuckle, do especially well in containers. This allows those with limited space, such as balconies or small patios, to enjoy their beauty and fragrance.
To keep them healthy and growing, use a pot and soil mix that drains well and give them enough water.
How to Grow Honeysuckle Vine from Cuttings? Very easy and simple, no need to spend money to buy.
FAQ
What is the best month to plant honeysuckle?
Where is the best place to plant honeysuckle?
Does honeysuckle come back every year?
