Common honeysuckle vs Mountain clematis

Common honeysuckle and Mountain clematis are often considered for the same spot in the garden (screening, flowers, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Common honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum 5 m × 2 m after 10 years

A twining deciduous climber whose cream, yellow and purple-red flowers open from early summer into autumn and smell strongest in the evening, so it is…

Climber

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 23

Mountain clematis

Clematis montana 8 m × 4 m after 10 years

One of the most vigorous clematis: it climbs by twisting leaf stalks, so it needs wires, a trellis, a fence or an old tree, and will not go up a…

Climber

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 20

Key differences

Mountain clematis grows larger: 8 m × 4 m after ten years, against 5 m × 2 m for Common honeysuckle (an estimate: sources differ).
Common honeysuckle is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -18 °C for Mountain clematis.
Common honeysuckle tolerates drought better than Mountain clematis.
Mountain clematis needs less care than Common honeysuckle.

Which one to choose?

Common honeysuckle is the better choice if space is tight, the garden is cold or a frost pocket or you cannot water regularly.

Mountain clematis is the better choice if you have little time for care.

Watch out for

Common honeysuckle

In Central Europe it struggles against a hot, dry wall in full sun: aphids smother the shoot tips and buds and the leaves get powdery mildew, especially when the roots dry out. It is far healthier in part shade with mulched, evenly moist soil. It goes bare at the base with age, so it needs rejuvenating after flowering every few years. Do not train it up a young tree, because the tightly twining stems constrict the trunk.

Mountain clematis

It is less hardy than other garden clematis: in Central Europe hard, windy winters can kill it back, and a late spring frost can destroy the developed flower buds, leaving it without flowers that year. Plant it by a sheltered wall and mulch the base. Pruning in winter or spring removes the flower buds. It grows very large and quickly overruns and weighs down small trellises, gutters and roof tiles. Clematis wilt, aphids, snails and earwigs can occur.

The data side by side

Feature	Common honeysuckle	Mountain clematis
Group	Climber	Climber
Size after 10 years	5 m × 2 m	8 m × 4 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	3–7 m × 1–3 m	5–12 m × 2.4–4.5 m
Growth rate	Fast	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)
Heat tolerance	Medium	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, white, yellow, red	May–June, white, pink
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Low
Maintenance	Medium	Low
Planting distance	100 cm	200 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Toxic
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic	Toxic
Typical price	approx. PLN 24	approx. PLN 20

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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