Lonicera henryi

At a glance

Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −34.4 °C

Cultivation

Prefers a good moist soil with its roots in the shade and its top growing up into the light. Plants are hardy to about -20°c. A vigorous climber, supporting itself by twining around other plants. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage. Layering in autumn.

Edible uses

Edible flowers, leaves and stems. No further details are given, but some caution is advised because this genus contains a number of mildly toxic plants[K].

Medicinal uses

The plant is used medicinally in China, but the report gives no more details.

Material uses

A very vigorous climbing plant, it makes a good dense ground cover plant where it has the space to run along the ground, but it will swamp smaller plants.

Habitat

Scrub, 1200 - 2300 metres.

Native range

E. Asia - China from W. Hubei to W. Sichuan.