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Is this a honeysuckle?

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  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    @Eustace
    .. if your plant is a Honeysuckle it could be Lonicera tatarica, the usual form is 'Arnold Red', I used to have it, but there are pink versions now.   it does look a bit like that I must say.   See what you think..  It's a shrubby Honeysuckle, not twining.. 
    East Anglia, England
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    Thanks @Marlorena. It looks like a shrubby lonicera rather than a twining one. The description of an upright shrub for L. Tatarica does match this plant. Here is a photo of new growth and another from the base of this plant. The stems are stiff; my (poor) analogy would be like raspberry canes. Pardon my analogy as I have only a lay person's botanical knowledge, being trained in computer science.


    I have L. Goldflame nearby which has a few buds forming as seen in the photo below. The stems of that plant is definitely supple and twining around other nearby supports.

    Also a L. Dropmore Scarlet which is also clinging to the stems of a nearby 🍏 tree.

    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    @Eustace
    .. if it is that one, and I haven't grown it for some 30 years, I recall it flowers from old wood formed the previous season, so it will flower next Spring from those leaf axils.  So don't prune it this year, keep all what you've got there..
    East Anglia, England
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    @Marlorena thanks for your advice. I will not be pruning it, it is alongside a fence and I have to 🦘 across a few plants to access that. Such is my planting plan😳
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Or could it be the winter-flowering honeysuckle, also a shrub, L. fragrantissima?  Mine looks like your first photo, @Eustace.  It's semi-evergreen and you're likely to notice the fragrance before you see the flowers, if that's what you have.  But I'm not familiar with L. tatarica so @Marlorena might well be right...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    edited July 2022
    Thanks for your suggestion @Liriodendron. It could well be. I might have bought as a mixed collection from some end-of-season sale. I will wait and see.
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    ..it could be the winter one actually, but it's not one I know... you'll find out in due course and then it'll be a pleasant surprise I hope..
    East Anglia, England
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I planted L fragrantissima in the spring it is only small but the growth near the ground is woody, new growth has the same red stem and new leaves are a paler green. Not a huge help but I think that could be right.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    This one is very sturdy, it's about 18" long.
  • EustaceEustace Posts: 2,290
    edited February 2023
    At last my plant has started flowering; quite fragrant even to my smell-challenged nose. There are lots of buds coming up too. 😊 Edited to add that it looks like an evergreen shrub, all the leaves are still in tact.
    Is it possible to identify the plant from these photos? (Pardon my poorly painted trellis/fence) Thanks 🙏
    Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
    And then my heart with pleasure fills,
    And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth :)

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