746 • 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
July 25, 1891. 
HONEYSUCKLES. 
There are something like eighty species of Honey¬ 
suckle, natives of the temperate and warm temperate 
regions of the northern hemisphere. Very few of 
them extend into the tropics. The choicest of the 
hardy ones only need here be taken into account, as 
they will afford sufficient variety for the shrubberies 
and pleasure grounds of any well kept private 
establishment. Lonicera fragrantissima and L. 
Standishii, which flower in winter and early spring, 
are valuable when flowers of any kind are scarce in 
the open air. Being entirely out of season they need 
not further be noticed than to say that one or both 
of them should find a’ place in every garden. 
The spring and summer-flowering kinds keep up a 
succession of bloom from May to September or 
October, the late flowers being the result of a second 
flowering from shoots produced late in summer. For 
botanical purposes, Honeysuckles are divided into 
two groups, according as the flowers are produced in 
terminal umbellate heads or in pairs in the axils of 
the leaves. For garden purposes they may be grouped 
differently. All the climbing or twining species may 
be placed together, as they require somewhat differ¬ 
ent treatment in the way of support from the rest, 
which are bushy, twiggy, and spreading shrubs, 
which require no training or support whatever. 
Climbing Species. 
The twining type is represented by our native 
species, the Woodbine or common Honeysuckle 
(L. Periclymenum), than w'hich few if any other 
species are more handsome, and, taking the beauty of 
the flowers and their delicious fragrance into con¬ 
sideration, this denizen of our woods, copses, and 
hedges is worthy of the best cultural treatment. Yet 
for years past has it been neglected in the gardens of 
the wealthy, and for the most part takes refuge in 
cottage gardens, where it is held in high estimation. 
Now and again one may find an old plant nailed to 
the walls of some lordly mansion, by some fortuitous 
circumstance, and generally in gardens that are con¬ 
sidered old-fashioned. The flowering branches hang 
down in festoons, peep in at the windows, and exhale 
an odour that is grateful to everybody. The absence 
of the species from the gardens of the wealthy is the 
penalty it pays for being a native wilding or weed of 
the woodlands which everyone who cares may 
possess. Forty or fifty years ago the case was far 
different, and several varieties were regarded as 
amongst the most handsome and valuable of climbers. 
The outer surface of the gaping or irregular flowers is 
red, and the interior is flesh-coloured or white on first 
expansion, but soon changes to a clear, bright, honey 
yellow. The name Honeysuckle is stated to have 
been first applied to the common European species 
from the fondness of children for the plant, and who 
amused themselves by removing the corollas and 
sucking the honey, or rather the nectar, which is 
secreted in great abundance, filling the lower part of 
the tube. Woodbine, as well as the specific name 
(Periclymenum), refers to the twining habit of the 
stems and shoots, which twist around trees and 
shrubs with which they come in contact, binding 
them together. 
A white variety, sometimes met with in old 
gardens, is very choice, and worthy of extended 
cultivation. The late-flowering Honeysuckle (L. P. 
serotinum) is useful for prolonging the season, and is 
also notable for the production of larger heads of 
bloom. The flowers exhibit a reddish tint. The 
variety was introduced from the continent in 1715. 
The Dutch Honeysuckle (L. P. belgicum) is not only 
a deliciously fragrant kind, but is altogether more 
robust in habit, with strong stems that may be 
trained upright to stakes, and then allowed to form a 
head, after the manner of a standard. The other 
kinds may be nailed against walls, trained on pillars 
or chains, after the style of the Italian Rose garden, 
or allowed to take possession of some tree or large 
shrub in the wild garden, where the stems may 
ramble and festoon the branches at their own sweet 
will. 
The Goat’s-leaf Honeysuckle (L. Caprifolium) is a 
native of middle and south Europe, as well as the 
Caucasus and Siberia. Both the flowers, stems, and 
leaves strongly resemble those of. our native species, 
but the upper leaves, or leafy bracts, are united 
at the base, often forming shallow cups, in which 
the heads of flowers are seated without footstalks. 
The species may still be found in old-fashioned 
gardens or grounds, sometimes apparently in a semi¬ 
wild state. It has also been picked up in copses and 
woods in a wild state in Oxford and Cambridge, 
and for that reason is recorded in all the leading 
British Floras. The berries of this, as well as the 
common Honeysuckle, are orange or scarlet, and 
often prove highly ornamental' during the autumn 
months. 
The Yellow-flowered Honeysuckle (L. flava) 
suffers unmerited neglect, and is only to be found in 
a few gardens, notwithstanding the delicious odour 
of the large bright yellow flowers. The latter change 
to an orange hue as they are fading. The leaves are 
somewhat leathery, and the upper ones are united at 
the base, as in the Goat’s-leaf Honeysuckle. It is an 
American species, and was introduced in 1810. A 
wall with an eastern or western aspect should be 
accorded this choice species on account of its being 
only tolerably hardy. The beauty of the flowers and 
their abundance will amply repay the wall space 
sacrificed, and for indoor decoration, in a cut state, 
few yellow flowers would be more acceptable. 
Quite a different type is represented by the Ever¬ 
green or Trumpet Honeysuckle (L. sempervirens). 
The hardiness of this species seems to be ignored in 
the South, where it is always or generally used as a 
conservatory climber. No objection need be raised 
to it on that score, for the length of time over which 
a single plant will keep up a display of bloom must 
be regarded as one of its most important qualities 
and recommendations. There are several varieties 
in cultivation, including L. s. major and L. s. minor, 
with larger and smaller flowers than the type, and 
the latter is frequently planted in greenhouses and 
conservatories. The species is treated as a wall- 
climber in several of the more northern counties of 
Scotland, and, although the leaves cease to be ever¬ 
green under those conditions, yet the plant 
withstands the frost of winter, and flowers towards 
the end of summer. The flowers are tubularly 
funnel-shaped, regularly five-lobed at the mouth, as 
the popular name implies, and of a refined scarlet 
colour on both surfaces. Care should be taken that 
the ground be well drained wherever this Honey¬ 
suckle is planted. A little peat in the soil would be 
an advantage rather than otherwise. Clayey and 
undrained or cold soils should be avoided when 
planting in the open air. The evergreen foliage is 
very impatient of a smoky atmosphere, and for that 
reason the plant is unsuitable for open air culture 
near London. Beyond the reach of the soot-laden 
atmosphere it should, however, be more largely 
planted than is at present the case. The slender, 
pendant branches are very graceful and the drooping 
flowers elegant. 
L. flexuosa can hardly be omitted from a collection 
even of the choice Honeysuckles, for the small 
yellow flowers, produced in pairs in the axils of the 
leaves, are very fragrant. The branches are slender, 
flexuous, and twining, clothed with ovate-oblong 
leaves of small size but closely arranged. For many 
years past the golden-netted variety (L. f. aurea- 
reticulata) has been more popular than the type on 
account of the beauty of its foliage. A close network 
of golden-yellow lines follows the course of the 
venation, rendering the plant an object of beauty at 
all times. The type is a native of Japan, from 
whence it was introduced in 1806, and is perfectly 
hardy, in the south at least. It may be trained on a 
wall or supported as the above-mentioned kinds, or 
grown as an edging and kept low by clipping. 
Bushy, Erect Honeysuckles. 
The best of these is probably L. tartarica, the 
Tartarian Honeysuckle, which grows from 4 ft. to 
6 ft. high, bearing an abundance of rosy or pale 
purple flowers in pairs from the axils of the leaves 
during the months of April and May. Its early- 
flowering character is one of its chief recommenda¬ 
tions, also backed up by its hardiness. The fruit is 
red and is now nearly ripe, but there are yellow and 
also white-fruited varieties in gardens. The Fly 
Honeysuckle (L. Xylosteum) is naturalised in some 
parts of the country, particularlv in Sussex and 
Hertfordshire. It has small pale-yellow flowers and 
scarlet berries, but there are garden forms with 
yellow, white, and black berries. The species was 
cultivated as early as 1596. Another species, namely 
L. tomentella, might be mentioned as worthy of 
cultivation for the beauty of its foliage and close, 
bushy, twiggy habit. The leaves are small, ovate, 
dark-green above, downy and hoary beneath. The 
flowers are white, tinted with purple, and borne in 
pairs in the axils of the leaves. In general appear¬ 
ance the bush more resembles a Hypericum than a 
Honeysuckle 
ZONAL PELARGONIUMS 
FOR WINTER FLOWERING. 
It has probably been noticed by most of the readers 
of The Gardening World that lovers of flowers 
in a given locality, while cultivating a great variety 
of plants, still show- unmistakeably which are their 
favourites, and generally grow them to a greater 
degree of perfection than the same class of plants 
enjoy in another locality. We all know the 
enthusiasm with which such plants as Auriculas, 
Carnations, and Chrysanthemum are grown in 
various places, often under adverse circumstances, 
while man)' others try to excel in growing one or two 
things, while at the same time attaining good average 
success with all they take in hand. 
Horticultural Exhibitions, which are now being 
held almost daily up and down the country, show 
visitors most plainly what are the plants most 
prized and best grown in the localities in which they 
are held, and it is very interesting to note how a 
certain class of plants, or a certain style of grouping, 
or some other interesting feature, is found to pre¬ 
dominate in one show, which may find no favour 
elsewhere, until the super-excellence of the exhibits 
attracts the praise of the Horticultural Press, and 
then that imitation, which we are told is the sincerest 
form of flattery, commences. What is true of summer 
shows is also true concerning those held in November, 
and this brings me to the subject of my note, which 
is not about shows entirely but Zonals. 
Much as good varieties of Zonal Pelargoniums 
are prized during the summer months, I think it will 
be admitted that a house full of plants in full bloom 
in November and December gives a greater amount 
of pleasure and satisfaction that at any other period 
of the year, and those Chrysanthemum Societies, 
which offer prizes at the November Shows for cut 
blooms, not only tend to greatly enliven the exhibi¬ 
tions, but also foster a friendly rivalry amongst 
gardeners and amateurs, which results in the plants 
attaining unusual excellence in the districts where 
the shows are held, the influence of which is felt 
amongst non-exhibitors also. Perhaps very few 
districts can compare with Bromley (Kent) in this 
respect, for it seems to be a general thing in the 
locality to grow some Zonals for winter flowering. 
The size of the house devoted to them of course 
varies with the size of the garden, but even in small 
gardens, where a small span-roof cannot be spared, 
they are allowed half a house on the sunny side. 
The local Chrysanthemum Society encourages the 
cultivation of Zonals, by offering yearly prizes for 
thirty-six trusses in twelve varieties, and for eighteen 
trusses in six varieties, and it need scarcely be said 
that they find crov’ds of admirers at the show, for 
all who have seen the Swanley Zonals at the 
Aquarium Show in November know full well how 
attractive they are to visitors. 
Varieties are so numerous as to be almost be¬ 
wildering, and the old favourites are continually being 
pushed on one side, but after growing a great many 
varieties the following are given as being proved 
sorts which have flowered well in November and 
December after being grown on for that purpose 
during the summer months, and having all young 
trusses pinched off until October. Amongst Scarlets, 
we grow Burns, Chas. Mason, Kentish Fire, Lizzie 
Brookes, Rev. —Harries and Scarlet Cloth. Crim¬ 
son : Mr. H. Canned, J. C. Musters, W. E. Gum- 
bleton, Mrs. Gordon, Dr. Rawson and Zelia. White : 
Eureka and Queen of the Belgains. Salmon-coloured 
kinds are Omphale, Kate Farmer and Sissie. 
Edith Little, blush ; Mrs. D. Sanders, rosy pink; 
Mrs. Strutt, deep pink ; Jean Ill, magenta pink; Lady 
F. Russell, rose; Lord Roseberry, cerise; Mrs. H. 
T. Barker, red-magenta ; Hermia, rosy-red ; Hettie, 
magenta. Amongst the new varieties which are 
very promising, but have not yet been tried as winter 
bloomers at present, should be mentioned Beauty of 
Kent, Mrs. Mayes ar.d Opal, salmon ; Phcenna, 
Miller’s Favourite and Shirley Hibberd, scarlet; 
Stella Massey, blush pink ; and Duchess of Portland, 
rosy-pink. 
The above are all single varieties and are more 
satisfactory on the whole than doubles for winter 
flowering. The following are the cream of twenty 
varieties of double Zonals, having winter flowering 
in view : — Scarlet : F. V. Raspail, Hollyhock, Pau( 
Charbonnier, and orange scarlet, Australian Gold ; 
Lord Derby, rose ; Rosa Bonheur, rose ; Le Cygnq 
and Swanley White, double white —IF. P, 
