5 things to discover about Honeysuckle

Finches Lane Wild flower Florilegium of Britain and Ireland

Lonicera periclymenum,

5 things you might not know about the wild flower -

Honeysuckle

1. Common Honeysuckle is a native climbing plant. It twines upwards from 5 to 7 meters and likes its roots in the shade and its flowers in the sun, although the fragrance from the flowers is strongest at night.

2. Honeysuckle’s two-lipped flowers are cream to yellow trumpets with a red/pink flush and can be used to add a honey flavour to jellies and drinks, but take note that the red berries cannot be used as they are toxic.

   When we were children, we plucked the flower, pinched the end off, and sucked the nectar from the base of the flower, and it did taste sweet like sugar.

3. The plant is often referred to as a natural hotel for wildlife. Moths, long-tongued bees, and surprisingly, dormice are drawn to the flowers, with dormice also using the bark to construct their summer nests. Deer, rabbits, and squirrels consume the leaves, while birds such as the song thrush and bullfinches feed on the red berries in the autumn.

4. In the UK and Ireland, there is only one native honeysuckle species; the others have escaped from gardens. One such escapee to be aware of is the Japanese honeysuckle, recognizable by its yellow-gold and white-silver flowers. It is invasive and often features lobed, oak-like leaves on younger shoots, with black berries appearing in the autumn.

   
   

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5. Flowers bloom from June to September, sometimes earlier, and may have a second bloom in September. The berries remain until November unless consumed by birds.

If you love Honeysuckle like I do, check out the Honeysuckle patterns in the Summer Flowers Collection at our shops, at the moment we have wallpaper, fabrics and home wares.

All these patterns are available at Spoonflower. Click the link below to see all of them.