Orange Honeysuckle Propagation

Stem cuttings provide an inexpensive means of propagating honeysuckle.

Many types of landscape shrubs and vines propagate by vegetative means, allowing you to produce many new plants from a single specimen. Orange honeysuckle is one of these types of plants. Although the plants produce seeds, the quickest and easiest way to propagate them is by taking a fresh cutting from a healthy plant.

Characteristics

Orange honeysuckle is the common name for Lonicera ciliosa. With support, this deciduous vine reaches a mature height near 20 feet tall. It produces small clusters of orange blossoms on pert stems that emerge above the center of broad, heart-shaped leaves. This variety of honeysuckle climbs over practically any nearby support, often covering neighboring shrubs, fences and tree trunks.

Cuttings

Stem cutting is a common method of reproducing woody ornamental plants like orange honeysuckles. Taking softwood cuttings in the springtime provides healthy, young starts that grow into new plants. The best time to prune off 6 to 8 inch sections of growth is when the new shoots are easy to snap when bent, and still contain leaves in graduated sizes. This stage normally occurs during late May and early June. Cuttings that contain flower blossoms or buds generally have a harder time producing new roots. Keeping the shoots damp until ready for planting will help ensure optimal rooting and healthy growth.

Planting

Orange honeysuckles prefer moist, loamy soils with good drainage. Immediately dipping the fresh cuttings into a rooting compound and inserting the coated ends one-third their length in rich potting soil will encourage new roots to form on the buried segment of vines. The sign of a successful propagation is the appearance of new leaves on the exposed vines. Orange honeysuckle tends to propagate quickly, often forming new roots, leaves and tendrils within two to three weeks of planting.

Care

Orange honeysuckle prefers slightly shaded locations, especially during the heat of the afternoon sun. Even moisture near the depth of the new roots will encourage propagated cuttings to grow into strong, healthy vines that produce abundant blossoms and foliage.

References

• Washington State University Extension: Propagating Deciduous and Evergreen Shrubs, Trees and Vines with Stem Cuttings; F. E. Larsen
• North Carolina State University: Plant Propagation by Stem Cuttings; Erv Evans and Frank A. Blazich; January 1999
• King County Native Plant Guide: Orange Honeysuckle
• "The Green World Horticulture"; Gail M. Lang, Ph.D.; 2007