Lonicera caprifolium is as usual the first here lonicera caprifoilium by charliepridham, on Flickr
Along with its all cream form Anna Fletcher lonicera anna fltcher by charliepridham, on Flickr
Good scent but a tendency to losing leaves after flowering is over in July, I am particularly fond of its hybrid x italica which retains the early flowering habit of caprifolium lonicera x italica by charliepridham, on Flickr
But there is a new kid on the block for early flowering, Lonicera subequalis, last year was its first full year out very eye catching plant, sadly not as scented as some (perhaps there will be some new hybrids to look forward to) lonicera subaqualis by charliepridham, on Flickr
The fruit set was long lasting as the birds didn't seem to strip it as quickly as the native honeysuckles lonicera subaquelis fruit2 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Lots more to come as the season unwinds :)
Lonicera sempervirens, is flowering its socks off this year, sadly this is what I have just cut off it for cuttings, the flowers being an unwanted part as far as cutting material goes! lonicera sempervirens by charliepridham, on Flickr
One of my new acquisitions flowering for the first time, saw this at Stonehouse cottage lovely evergreen Lonicera giraldii lonicera giraldii007 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Many more doing their thing now, Lonicera etrusca Superba is easily the best of the various etrusca forms, I particularly like the way it wafts its perfume even during the heat of the day lonicera etrusca superba004 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Lonicera henryi often gets a bad press for not being scented but it is a very reliable evergreen lonicera henryi005 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Lonicera tragophylla is stunning in flower, it is a shame about the lack of scent lonicera tragaphylla3 by charliepridham, on Flickr
Of relatively little importance compared to the above, but I'm quite pleased that a small rooted cutting of L. hildebrandiana has put on well over a metre of growth outside during this past month. It won't flower this year of course and will have to be overwintered under cover for this year at least, but my fantasy of having it around my back door, with its huge leathery leaves and 6" long, heavily fragrant flowers gets just that little bit closer. It's a very warm position only suffering frost in the very coldest of winters. For years, I had Pandorea jasminoides in that spot and it was spectacular, flowering from May through to January every year. I decided to shift it further down and although it survived the move enough to flower quite well, it was weakened somewhat and the following winter (2009/10) finished it off.
Shame about the Pandorea, its one of my favorite climbers, I have several plants of hilderbrandiana here but sadly they always have to be protected, if its any consolation Tom Hudson at Tregrehane who we once witnessed up a full size Oak tree hacking out hilderbrandiana had his damaged during those two cold winters!
Nothing to do with Honeysuckles but last week discovered a Buddleja forrestii which I think I put back for you last autumn intending to take it up to Hillhouse this year but we haven't been, do you still want one?
charlie wrote:Nothing to do with Honeysuckles but last week discovered a Buddleja forrestii which I think I put back for you last autumn intending to take it up to Hillhouse this year but we haven't been, do you still want one?
I do Charlie, but getting it is the problem. I had every intention of spending along weekend in Cornwall, indulging myself ot excess (plantaholicly speaking), but having been so ill so often earlier this year, I'm still playing 'catch-up' and even the half hour drive to HH hasn't happened!
OK, I will use the buddleja as cuttings and pot it on later, I have not been ill but my wife has been having back problems, an operation in November will we hope sort that out so next year I can try and get it to HH, You are of course welcome to drop in at any time if you do make it down!
Now back to Honeysuckles, nearly past its best now but Lonicera 'Belgica' is an old variety its still hard to beat lonicera belgica by charliepridham, on Flickr
Thanks Charlie. If I can get down I'll drop you a line. Wholeheartedly agree with you about Belgica - one of the oldest varieties and still one of the best.
