Lonicera japonica at Sequim Rare Plants

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Lonicera japonica

Lonicera japonica

Japanese honeysuckle is certainly a noxious weed across much of North America. But despite this, it is one of my favorite plants. Any plant that we remember from our childhoods will likely be a favorite for the rest of our lives. And so it is for me, with this vine. One of my mother's friends had a marvelous garden full of secret hiding places, arbors and other surprises around every corner. During high summer the scent of these flowers wafted through her garden. Hers was not a large garden, just one crammed full of too many plants, both high and low. The many trellises and arbors made her garden seem to be much larger than it was. And just the right size for a youngster.

The scent of these flowers is very sweet and carries on the wind some distance. So your nose will often tell of the honeysuckle's presence before your eyes will fall on it. The one thing about southern gardens that I envy, is the many fragrant plants that grow there. So many of them flower all summer long, such as gardenias and magnolias. There are many fragrant plants for northern gardens, however they seem to be more fleeting in their season -- lilacs only in spring, asters only in autumn, tall phlox only in July, Asiatic lilies for only a few short weeks, ...

For northern gardeners, this honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, will transport you to a warmer climate.