Lonicera periclymenum 'Rhubarb and Custard' ®
honeysuckle
This compact honeysuckle is perfect for smaller gardens, producing masses of richly coloured, fragrant flowers throughout summer.
Deep purple buds open into clusters of tubular pink blooms that fade to yellow as they mature, creating a striking two-tone effect. The flowers are highly scented and a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
Later in the season, glossy red berries appear, providing a valuable food source for birds.
Lonicera periclymenum 'Rhubarb and Custard' is easy to grow, tolerating light shade but flowering best in a sunny position. It reaches around 2m in height, making it ideal for patio pots with an obelisk or training against fences and trellises.
Low maintenance, once established, and hardy, it offers months of colour, fragrance, and wildlife interest.
Deep purple buds open into clusters of tubular pink blooms that fade to yellow as they mature, creating a striking two-tone effect. The flowers are highly scented and a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
Later in the season, glossy red berries appear, providing a valuable food source for birds.
Lonicera periclymenum 'Rhubarb and Custard' is easy to grow, tolerating light shade but flowering best in a sunny position. It reaches around 2m in height, making it ideal for patio pots with an obelisk or training against fences and trellises.
Low maintenance, once established, and hardy, it offers months of colour, fragrance, and wildlife interest.
How to care for Lonicera periclymenum Rhubarb and Custard:
To avoid dry conditions, and to ensure good soil contact around the rootball, we advise planting climbers at least 30cm (12in), and preferably 45-60cm (18-24in) away from the base of a wall or fence. An even larger distance should be maintained when planting climbers beside an existing tree or shrub.
When planting, add some soil conditioner (well-rotted compost) to the planting hole and some mycorrhizal fungi to aid root establishment. Newly planted honeysuckles should be cut back by up to two thirds in their first full year after planting, in early spring. The resulting new growth can then be tied onto a frame, and nipped back when it reaches the desired height.
In subsequent years (again in early spring), thin out congested stems, and prune lanky stems back to healthy buds. Every few years, you may want to renovate your plant, and you can do this by cutting it back to around 60cm (24in) above the ground.
The subsequent mass of growth will need to be thinned and tied on as before. After pruning, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plant.
When planting, add some soil conditioner (well-rotted compost) to the planting hole and some mycorrhizal fungi to aid root establishment. Newly planted honeysuckles should be cut back by up to two thirds in their first full year after planting, in early spring. The resulting new growth can then be tied onto a frame, and nipped back when it reaches the desired height.
In subsequent years (again in early spring), thin out congested stems, and prune lanky stems back to healthy buds. Every few years, you may want to renovate your plant, and you can do this by cutting it back to around 60cm (24in) above the ground.
The subsequent mass of growth will need to be thinned and tied on as before. After pruning, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plant.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
2m
Eventual spread:
1.5m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
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This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
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Humans/Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten
