All About Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is a type of flower that comes in many different colors and often has tubular, bell-shaped blossoms. Throughout history, honeysuckle has been variously beloved and despised. This delicately-scented flower has been cultivated in countries all over the world. Beloved by horticulturalists, poets and practitioners of herbal medicine, honeysuckle has been used for a variety of purposes.

Origins

The honeysuckle plant has been around for thousands of years. It takes the form of a shrub or a long vine, and is part of the genus Lonicera. The plant comes in many different species, and is indigenous to countries all over the world, including Great Britain, the Scandinavian countries, China, Japan, and various places throughout North America.

Honeysuckle as Muse

The honeysuckle has been featured in poems both medieval and modern. It is featured prominently in a poem by Marie de France called "Chevrefoil," likely written in the late 1100s. This poem is about legendary star-crossed lovers Tristan and Iseult. The flower is also featured in "Earthward" by Robert Frost.

Medicinal Uses

In addition to its aesthetic beauty and delicate scent, this flower can soothe coughs and sore throats. According to the website HerbalHouseholdRemedies.com, honeysuckle is also a homeopathic cough and cold remedy.

US Listing on Invasive Plants List

The Japanese honeysuckle was first brought to the US in the 1800s for decorative purposes. In recent years, however, this species has been classified by federal and state governments as invasive, and it is often burned or treated with herbicide to keep it from dominating over indigenous species of plants.

Etymology

The word honeysuckle derives from the Middle English "honiesoukel", which in turns derives from an Old English phrase "hunigsūce".

Growing Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle needs a lot of sun in order to flourish. You can often purchase and plant honeysuckle in the spring, and they will require only occasional watering except in the most arid of climates. The soil should be covered with mulch to help retain nutrients and moisture. Some varieties of honeysuckle are are evergreen, but others are not. Whether you choose a vine plant or a shrub, both can benefit from regular pruning. It is important to avoid over-fertilizing, especially with varieties of honeysuckle that can become invasive.

Sources and Additional Reading:

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/honeysuckle.shtml
http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft4580069z&chunk.id=ch4&toc.depth=1&toc.id=ch4&brand=eschol
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/honeysucklecare.html
http://www.herbalhouseholdremedies.com/natural-cough-and-cold-remedies/