How big does Common honeysuckle grow?

About 5 m × 2 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 3–7 m × 1–3 m.

What soil does Common honeysuckle grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous, acidic.

Is Common honeysuckle hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Common honeysuckle toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

When does Common honeysuckle flower?

Flowering: June–September, white, yellow, red.

How much water does Common honeysuckle need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

Common honeysuckle

Lonicera periclymenum

Common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) is a climber that reaches 5 m × 2 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Mildly toxic to children. Sold in local shops from about €17.

Illustration of Common honeysuckle — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

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 worth planting near a terrace, a seat or a window. It will cover a fence, pergola or trellis, but needs something to wind around because it does not cling to walls. Keep the base cool, shaded and moist while the shoots climb into the sun; the red berries in late summer are not edible.

Watch out for

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.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 5 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–September, white, yellow, red

Group	Climber
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	5 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	3–7 m × 1–3 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	June–September, white, yellow, red
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	from about €17

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
size not stated	approx. €17

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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