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honeysuckle mystery

swhittle.97swhittle.97 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Why does my honeysuckle set flowers well, but just as they are about the open I find the petals have been removed - or some are just lying folorn on the floor. This has happened for the last three years - initially removed lots of slugs from the foliage but its happened again in this very dry weather. Any ideas would be appreciated -   S.

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Hello and welcome.
    Never had this with honeysuckle so not sure but our increasing sparrows pull the flowers of the primroses....why, no idea. We have also seen them doing this to forsythia flowers.
    Could this be the same problem?
  • swhittle.97swhittle.97 Posts: 3
    I don't think so. No sign of birds in the daytime the loss of petals happens during the night.  Been out at night time with a torch and hand-removed slugs. (I know - I need to get a life!) The birds do take my wisteria blooms though. Honestly - so ungrateful after you feed them all year this is how they repay you.  I'm grateful for your reply - thank you for taking the time.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Just a thought … can you look at the ones on the ground and see if there are any signs of a tiny hole in the side?  

    Some short-tongued bees are known to get at the nectar in ‘tube’ shaped flowers by buying into the side of the flower rather than going down the flower like their long-tongued cousins. 

    I wondered whether, if they did that to honeysuckle, the plant might then shed the flower … just a thought 🤔 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • swhittle.97swhittle.97 Posts: 3
    I had heard of that only the other day - just looked and no sign on the petals on the floor - but many of them seem to have disappeared altogether.  Isn't it a mystery?  Thank you for your time.  S
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