Honeysuckle Dropmore Scarlet

A wonderfully coloured honeysuckle, Lonicera brownii Dropmore Scarlet is a really beautiful, semi-evergreen (deciduous in colder areas) climber, which will need support. The leaves are ovate, and blue-green, setting off the flowers well. From July to September, the plant carries rich scarlet, trumpet-shaped, unscented flowers, followed in hot summers by small, red berries, good food for birds. The lack of scent is more than compensated for by the gorgeous flowers. Cut back flowered stems after flowering by one-third, and mulch well with well-rotted manure or compost in spring to conserve moisture.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: July to September
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 13’ (4m) Spread: 6’ 6” (2m) eventually

Photos by Matt Lavin and David Stang, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 and 4.0.