Japanese honeysuckle: Purpurea, Aureoreticulata, Red World

In its natural environment, Japanese honeysuckle is common in the North Caucasus. The wild species gave rise to ornamental varieties with different colors of flowers and leaves. Creepers are widely used for vertical gardening and creating hedges.

The culture is characterized by abundant and long flowering.

Description of Japanese honeysuckle

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica) is a vine that grows up to 10 m in height. Strengthen the plant on supports, less often used as a ground cover option. The culture is characterized by intensive shoot formation, growth can be up to 0,5 m per season. The color of the flowers depends on the variety. There are white, cream, pink and red varieties.

The leaves are densely spaced, lanceolate, with a pointed tip, hard and glossy, the color depends on the variety. The plant is a perennial, with proper agricultural technology, decorates the site for more than 10 years.

Varieties of Japanese honeysuckle

Wild species are distributed mainly in the south of Our Country and in Asian countries. Poor frost resistance does not allow growing Japanese culture in a temperate climate. In regions with a cold climate, varieties are cultivated that are adapted to the weather conditions of Our Country.

Honeysuckle Japanese Aureoreticulata

The most famous and widespread variety in the Moscow region and the European part is the Japanese honeysuckle Aureoreticulata.

Variety characteristic:

• liana grows up to 4,5-5 m;
• flowering is long, single. Lasts from late spring to mid-summer;
• flowers change from white to yellow;
• the peculiarity of the variety lies in the color of the leaves: an asymmetrical mesh pattern is located on a green background;
• berries are black, not edible.

The variety may not bloom every year; the unusual coloring of the leaf plates makes it decorative.

The plant is characterized by medium frost resistance, therefore, in the fall, crown shelter is required.

Honeysuckle Japanese Red World

A semi-evergreen vine that retains an attractive appearance until February. External characteristic:

• the shoots of the current season are thin, red-brown;
• an adult plant grows up to 6 m;
• leaves are ovate, buds open in April. The leaf plate is dark green with yellow veins;
• flowers are arranged in pairs in leaf axils of a bright red hue. Liana is completely covered with inflorescences that appear in May. The aroma is mild;
• fruits are dark blue with a golden coating, edible.

Rel World is one of the frost-resistant varieties suitable for cultivation in Siberia

Japanese Honeysuckle Purpurea

Purpurea is an evergreen vine variety. In spring, the leaves are bright green, becoming darker in summer, turning into a purple-purple hue by autumn. The main shoots of Japanese honeysuckle grow up to 4 m in length. Numerous tubular flowers appear with a red base and white petals, then turn yellow and are strongly scented. The berries are black, not suitable for use in food.

Most of the leaves have a dark maroon rim around the edge.

Japanese honeysuckle Holls Prolific

Halls Prolific can be called undersized, the length of the shoots rarely exceeds 2,5 m. The peculiarity of the variety is the formation of numerous shoots from the root. Flowering is late, but long: from June to September. The flowers are small, densely arranged, their color is whitish-yellow.

The plant is compact, very dense, suitable for hedges.

Honeysuckle Japanese Variegated

The variegated variety is a semi-evergreen seedling with an attractive crown. The special value of culture is its leaves and shoots. Intense red stems. The color of Japanese honeysuckle is golden-netted, does not change until frost, with time the plate becomes slightly reddish.

Variety characteristic:

1. The height of the dwarf form does not exceed 1 m. The plant is more often used as a ground cover option or for vertical gardening of low structures.
2. The variety is suitable for growing in a container, it is used in the design of recreation areas and outdoor verandas.
3. The flowers are white at the top, purple at the base, strongly fragrant.
4. Flowering later. It starts in June and lasts 30-40 days.

When grown using a trellis, the plant can reach 1,2 m. It constantly requires molding, the stems grow chaotically. Of all the varieties, Variegated is considered the most decorative and versatile in use.

Suitable for creating arches or low hedges

Honeysuckle Japanese Honey Liana

The variety got its name because of the unusual color of the flowers. They have a bright yellow hue, and are distinguished by a sweet persistent aroma. Honeysuckle grows up to 6 m, the annual growth is about 60 cm. The shoot formation is intense, the stems are randomly intertwined, creating a continuous mass.

The leaves are rounded, large, dark green, becoming reddish in autumn.

The stems with the help of suction cups are tightly fixed on the wall or fence, covering them with a solid carpet.

Honeysuckle Japanese Haliana

The variety of Japanese honeysuckle Halliana is one of the most common and popular in Our Country, because the main advantage of the species, in addition to decorativeness, is high frost resistance. The plant calmly tolerates a drop in temperature to -40 ⁰C.

Variety characteristic:

• this is one of the tallest varieties, which can grow up to 7-8 m;
• the plant is evergreen, the leaves are oblong rich green, slightly darken by autumn;
• flowers are numerous, light yellow, with a pronounced citrus aroma;
• blooms from spring to autumn.

The crown is very dense, the annual growth is about 1 m. The berries are black, unsuitable for consumption.

In ornamental gardening, the variety is used to strengthen slopes.

Planting and caring for Japanese honeysuckle

Japanese honeysuckle comes from a warm climate, but the varieties created are adapted to the weather conditions of the temperate zone. The growth and flowering of the crop depends on the location on the site and subsequent agricultural technology.

Terms of planting

The culture is characterized by early sap flow, so it is necessary to plant Japanese honeysuckle when it is at rest. The biological cycle slows down after fruit ripening. Spring planting in a temperate climate is not possible, because the soil does not have time to warm up enough to work. The optimal time is the end of August or the middle of September. Before winter sets in, Japanese honeysuckle will have time to take root enough to withstand frost.

In the South, landing in the spring is possible, but time will be lost for survival. The main part of the nutrition will go to the formation of the root system, and not to the green mass, so it is also better to place Japanese honeysuckle on the site in autumn.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

Decorative types of Japanese honeysuckle are distinguished by a variety of leaf colors, for which they are valued in landscape design. To maintain pronounced varietal characteristics, the plant needs a sufficient amount of light. Honeysuckle does not respond well to the drying of an earthen coma. It is better to take a place so that the crown is in the sun, and the root system is in the shade.

The best option is the south side of the building.

Liana needs support, she also needs to be taken care of during landing

You can use Japanese honeysuckle as a groundcover, in which case it should have enough space for vegetation.

The composition of the soil is neutral, slightly acidic is allowed. If necessary, the reaction is corrected by appropriate means. The soil for planting is diverted with good aeration, fertile. Loams are suitable, and honeysuckle develops much worse on heavy or sandy soils.

The culture does not tolerate drying out of the soil, but the problem can be solved by watering. On waterlogged soil, honeysuckle will not grow at all. The development of diseases, root rotting, plant death are possible consequences of wetlands.

The place and the landing pit are prepared in advance or on the day of the work. The site is dug up, the roots of plants are removed. The depth of the hole can be calculated in the following way: measure the distance from the root to the neck, given that it remains above the surface (by 4-5 cm). Add 15-20 cm to the drainage pad and 20 cm to the soil mixture layer.

Rules of landing

Japanese honeysuckle seedlings acquire two years of age, it is better that the material is in a shipping container. If the root is open, it is pre-disinfected in a manganese solution and placed in Kornevin.

Sequence of work:

1. A nutrient substrate is prepared, consisting of equal parts of compost, sod layer or peat. Sand is added to clay soil. Bring 2-3 tbsp. l. superphosphate.
2. Part of the mixture is poured onto the drainage, if the root is open, then a small cone-shaped mound is made in the center, this is not necessary for a closed root system, the seedling is transferred along with an earthen clod.
3. Honeysuckle is placed in the center, covered with the rest of the nutrient soil, soil on top, the neck remains on the surface.

The plant is watered and covered with mulch

For planting in a line, honeysuckle is placed in a trench with an interval of 2 m.

Watering and feeding

Japanese honeysuckle is not fed for the first 2 years. An adult plant begins to fertilize when it enters the budding phase. In the spring, organic agents and urea are added. In preparation for winter, they are fertilized with complex mineral products and organic matter. Autumn top dressing of Japanese honeysuckle is required, it contributes to the full laying of vegetation buds at the beginning of the season.

The main watering is necessary for the plant in the first years, when the honeysuckle builds up the root system. Seedlings are moistened regularly with a small amount of water so that it does not stagnate in the ground. The main task is to prevent the earthen coma from drying out. Adult honeysuckle is watered based on the intensity of precipitation. Approximately the plant needs 25 liters of water for 10 days.

Trimming

Flowering in Japanese honeysuckle is plentiful, flowers are formed on the upper part of annual shoots. Pruning in the spring is difficult, it is difficult to determine which shoots overwinter normally until the buds open. At this time, only damaged areas are removed.

The main pruning is carried out in the autumn. In order to provoke branching in the spring, the stems on which there were flowers are shortened by 30 cm. The old branches are removed, leaving only skeletal vines. Perennial shoots do not bear fruit, but thicken the bush. In the spring, the branches are sent to the support so that they do not tangle. Old bushes are rejuvenated, the crown is completely cut off, skeletal vines are removed, replacing them with strong shoots.

Wintering

In the South, the plant hibernates without crown shelter, Japanese honeysuckle is watered abundantly, fertilizers are applied and the soil is mulched. In regions with a cold climate, honeysuckle shelters the first 3 years. During this time, the culture adapts to the temperature and will be able to overwinter without warming. If the shoots freeze, it’s not scary, during the season the plant will fully form a replacement, because the shoot formation of honeysuckle is high. The main task in a temperate climate is to preserve the root.

Young creepers require shelter for the winter:

1. The stems are carefully removed from the support.
2. The branches are pulled together in a bundle and placed on boards or straw.
3. Top covered with spunbond and spruce branches.

How does Japanese honeysuckle reproduce?

Japanese honeysuckle is propagated by seeds if it is a wild species. Decorative varieties with a generative method will not retain their characteristics. The best vegetative option:

1. Liana gives viable planting material when propagated by layering.
2. You can plant honeysuckle on the plot after dividing the mother specimen, but the method is laborious, because the lashes can reach a height of up to 10 m, and only adult seedlings that are at least four years old are suitable for the procedure.
3. The fastest and most productive way is cuttings.

The cuttings are cut from annual shoots, planted for rooting in a mini-greenhouse, the structure is insulated for the winter, and by the end of the next season they are seated in the allotted place.

Diseases and pests

Japanese honeysuckle differs with stable immunity, the plant is sick only on waterlogged soils. With improper agricultural technology or an unsuccessfully chosen place, it is affected by a fungal disease (powdery mildew). Eliminate the problem with Topaz.

The fungicide is also effective as a preventive measure.

Of the pests on Japanese honeysuckle, aphids and scale insects parasitize. In the fight against them, Fitoverm is used.

The tool is used to combat all types of insects that affect honeysuckle.

Medicinal properties of Japanese honeysuckle

Berries from Japanese honeysuckle are not suitable for eating, they are inedible. If swallowed, they may cause signs of intoxication: vomiting and indigestion. In the chemical composition of the plant there are substances that have medicinal properties:

• antibacterial;
• antipyretic;
• anti-inflammatory;
• antivirus.

Flowers, branches of Japanese honeysuckle are used in alternative medicine for the manufacture of tinctures, decoctions, for oral and topical use in the treatment of the following diseases:

• viral seasonal infections;
• tonsillitis, pharyngitis;
• cystitis.

Effective remedies for skin pathologies, including purulent ones.

Conclusion

Japanese honeysuckle and its varieties are creepers with a decorative crown. The plant is used to decorate a personal plot, decorate the walls of residential buildings. Honeysuckle does not respond to the gas pollution of megacities. It can often be found in urban recreation areas, parks, squares, kindergartens and playgrounds.