imported>Iangpark: removed reference to L. xylosteum being native to UK, which it isn't

2025-10-24T09:52:21Z

removed reference to L. xylosteum being native to UK, which it isn't

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{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = European honeysuckle 800.jpg
|genus = Lonicera
|species = periclymenum
|authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
|synonyms =
{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
*''Caprifolium distinctum'' Moench
*''Caprifolium germanicum'' Röhl.
*''Caprifolium periclymenum'' (L.) Delarbre
*''Caprifolium quercifolium'' Meigen
*''Caprifolium semperflorens'' Dippel
*''Euchylia verticillata'' Dulac
*''Lonicera hispanica'' Boiss. & Reut.
*''Periclymenum vulgare'' Mill.
}}
|synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2898334
|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species
|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref>
}}

'''''Lonicera periclymenum''''', [[common name]]s '''honeysuckle''', '''common honeysuckle''', '''European honeysuckle''', or '''woodbine''', is a [[species]] of [[flowering plant]] in the [[family (biology)|family]] Caprifoliaceae [[native plant|native]] to much of Europe, North Africa, Turkey and the Caucasus.<ref name=RHSAZ1>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants|year=1996|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=0751303038|pages=631}}</ref> It is found as far north as southern Norway, Sweden and Finland.

==Description==
Growing to {{convert|7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} or more in height, it is a vigorous [[deciduous]] twining [[vine|climber]], occasionally keeping its old leaves over winter.<ref name=FloBrit>{{cite book|title=Flora Britannica|year=1996|publisher=Sinclair-Stevenson|location=United Kingdom|isbn=1856193772|pages=348}}</ref> In the UK it is the only native honeysuckle. It is often found in woodland or in hedgerows or scrubland.

The tubular, two-lipped [[flowers]],<ref name=RHSAZ>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref> creamy white or yellowish in colour, may be flushed with pink or red on the outside and in bud, and are carried in showy clusters at the ends of the shoots.<ref name="RHSAZ1"/> The flowers are highly scented by night, much less so by day.

==Ecology==
The plant is usually [[Pollination|pollinated]] by [[moth]]s or long-tongued [[bee]]s and develops bright red [[Berry (botany)|berries]]. [[Dormouse|Dormice]] make summer nests for their young from honeysuckle [[Bark (botany)|bark]]; they also eat the flowers, which are a good source of energy-rich [[nectar]]. Night-flying moths such as the [[hummingbird hawk-moth]] can detect the scent of honeysuckle flowers up to a quarter of a mile away. The clusters of red berries are eaten in the autumn by birds such as [[Song thrush|thrushes]], [[bullfinch]]es and [[Old World warbler|warblers]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants-and-fungi/woodland-wildflowers/honeysuckle/
|title=The Woodland Trust: Explore Woods: Honeysuckle (''Lonicera periclymenum'')
|accessdate=12 October 2017}}</ref>

==Cultivation==
''Lonicera periclymenum'' is one of several honeysuckle species valued in the garden, for its ability to twine around other plants, or to cover unsightly walls or outbuildings; and for the intense fragrance of its profuse flowers in summer. It needs to be planted with its roots in the shade, and its flowering top in sun or light shade. Plants need to be chosen with care as they can grow to a substantial size.<ref name=RHSAZ /> The [[cultivars]] '[[Graham Stuart Thomas|Graham Thomas]]'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lonicera periclymenum'' 'Graham Thomas'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/74793/Lonicera-periclymenum-Graham-Thomas/Details | accessdate = 29 October 2020}}</ref> and 'Serotina'<ref>{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - ''Lonicera periclymenum'' 'Serotina'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/93077/Lonicera-periclymenum-Serotina/Details | accessdate = 29 October 2020}}</ref> have gained the [[Royal Horticultural Society]]'s [[Award of Garden Merit]].<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 61 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | accessdate = 25 March 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Woodbine on Willow - Honeysuckle.JPG|thumb|right|Woodbine on a willow tree]]

==Pests==
''[[Chromatomyia aprilina]]'' – honeysuckle leaf miner

==Cultural references==
In William Shakespeare’s play ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' he refers to woodbine/honeysuckle twice:
#(Act II Scene 1) "Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine"
#(Act IV Scene 1) "So doth the woodbine the sweet honeysuckle gently entwine"

It seems probable that the first quotation is referring to the honeysuckle ''L. periclymenum'', a common sight in hedgerows in Shakespeare’s time. The second quotation is somewhat more confusing. It is thought that on this occasion, "woodbine" refers to a species of ''[[Convolvulus]]'', also very common but nowadays called "bindweed".<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.shakespeareswords.com/Plants| title = Plants | publisher = Shakespeare’s words
| accessdate = 26 March 2018}}</ref>

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q161584}}

[[Category:Lonicera|periclymenum]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1753]]
[[Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]

Lonicera periclymenum - Revision history

imported>Iangpark: removed reference to L. xylosteum being native to UK, which it isn't