Honeysuckle

Hi all
Quick question really. I've heard that honeysuckles are similar to clematis, in that they like their roots to be in shade or at least protected from sunlight, but like to reach towards sun to produce maximum blooms.

Is this correct? Also, can they be grown in shade completely or do they need some sunlight. I understand they were originally woodland plants

Ta muchly:gnthb:

 

They can take a range of light levels, but in shade they will tend to get leggy and won't flower much. They can also be prone to mildew if they are too dry at the roots.

They are originally woodland plants, but the most floriferous wild ones are those growing through hedgerows!

 

I know all about mildew, I had one earlier this year get it and all the leaves fell off :( However, on advice I lifted it (it was a smallish plant!), replanted somewhere more shady and gave it a hard pruning and it seems ok now. I have bought another one though and want to plant it somewhere suitable.

So is mildew down to dry roots?

 

Any plant that gets mildew is often caused by the roots being too dry and the tops being damp!

 

Thanks

 

At our old house I had a honeysuckle in quite a shaded spot it did ok but never what I would call great.

Earlier this year I planted our first honeysuckle in our present gardens in an area slightly shaded by a hedge and in a pretty bad wind tunnel too, my goodness it loves it where it is I have been rewarded with loads of growth and it is flowering now too.

I think if you are unsure where plants will do their best take cuttings so if you do (heaven forbid) loose your plant you will always have a youngster to replace it with.Hel.xxx.

 

Aaron, honeysuckle ( Lonicera ) are woodland plants, so will take dry, shady conditions.:gnthb:

 

yep... but they will flower better in lighter conditions, and suffer from mildew if the roots are dry!

 

If its any guidance, I've planted it in front of a south facing row of bushes/fence which gets some sun, but is not in the full summer sun glare ever. More dappled shade I would say (sounds woodland?)

 

How do dry roots cause mildew? Warm, moist conditions cause mildew.

 

Dryness at the roots, which often happens in the "rain shadow" caused by walls, weakens the plants, making them more prone to disease and pests. You can try to treat the symptoms as much as you like, but you really need to make sure they have a good deep, damp,cool root run if you want to prevent the mildew happening

 

:hehe: David and Querqus Are you having a domestic ? :lollol:

 

No, just a difference of opinion. Quercus, rubbish.:gnthb:

 

Gardeners disagree about everthing... all the time.... I'm just trying to help him have better honeysuckles... it's up to him whether or not he listens to me!

 

Quercus, me too.:hehe: Answer me this, lonicera are woodland plants, they are growing in dry conditions ( the trees take most of any moisture ). So why aren`t they wiped out by what you call mildew? I presume you are talking about Botrytis, which is a fungal infection. Also, as they are woodland plants, the light levels do not affect their flowering abilities.