How to Plant Honeysuckle Seeds

Honeysuckle vines are distinguished by their sweet fragrance and tubular flowers. These fast growing vines are almost indestructible, which is good for the gardener; however, the very invasive Japanese honeysuckle is virtually impossible to kill. Before planting honeysuckle seeds, make sure you have either a native honeysuckle or a noninvasive cultivar. Honeysuckle is usually planted near trellises or walls where it happily blankets the supports in 2 or 3 years. Honeysuckle can also be planted on banks and steep hills for erosion control. Honeysuckle needs full sun although it will tolerate light shade and a well drained soil. Native honeysuckle is an important nectar source for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cleaned, dry honeysuckle seeds, any variety Damp paper towel Plastic baggie Seed starting flat Sterile seed starting mix or 50/50 mix of compost and sterile sand Small individual pots

1. Remove berry flesh and skin adhering to your honeysuckle seeds. Place them on a paper towel and allow them to dry thoroughly, usually 24 hours.

2. Place the clean, dry honeysuckle seeds on a damp paper towel. Place the paper towel in a plastic baggie, seal the baggie and place in a refrigerator for 2 to 3 months. Keep the paper towel damp during this time.

3. After the cold stratification is complete, fill a seed starting flat with sterile seed starting mix or a 50/50 mix of compost/sand. Moisten the soil or compost/sand mix.

4. Place 1 honeysuckle seed in each cell, covering lightly with compost or sterile seed starting mix.

5. Place the seed starting flat in a warm greenhouse; the seeds will start to germinate in 2 to 6 weeks. If you don't have access to a greenhouse, place the seed starting flat on a sunny windowsill. The flat will need to receive 6 to 8 hours of sun.

6. Keep the seed starting flat moist, but do not overwater.

7. When the honeysuckle seedlings are big enough to safely handle (when they are 2 to 3 inches tall) transplant each seedling into an individual pot filled with the 50/50 compost/sand mix or sterile seed starting mix.

Tips & Warnings

• You can directly sow honeysuckle seeds in your garden. Just choose an out-of-the-way spot in your garden (your honeysuckle will need to remain in place for at least a year) and plant the cleaned seeds 1/4 inch deep in early fall. Grow your honeysuckle in pots for its first year; bring the honeysuckle plants indoors. Store the plants in a garage or outbuilding that receives light where temperatures do not dip below freezing. Erect your trellis or wall before you plant your honeysuckle vine. Choose native honeysuckle cultivars whenever possible.
• Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is highly invasive and is banned in most Eastern states. Use native or noninvasive varieties instead.

References

• Green life, growing honeysuckle
• PCA Japenese honeysuckle, invasive plant

Resources

• Easy wildflowers, native honeysuckle