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Just thought i'd give you all a recommendation for a great early flowering plant for bees, prompted by walking past it in the Lodge gardens this afternoon! Shrubby honeysuckle, Latin name Lonicera fragrantissima, is a spreading shrub that flowers in late winter/early spring (i.e. now!) that has a really sweet scent and is really attractive to bees when there are few other flowers available.
Anyone else had any experience with this plant?
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Hi Ian
Thank you for this link. I have heard of our native Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum which can become quite untidy if left to it's own devices.
This shrubby honeysuckle looks like a good alternative and I will look out for it. :-)
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
I have this honeysuckle in my garden, it has been in flower since the 2nd week in december,
It is now at its best, its packed with flowers, & now we have a little bit of sun to warm things up
it smells fabulous today,it seems the warmer it gets the stronger the smell, its such a delicate sweet smell,
the shrub has a few leaves now,after the flowers have gone the leaves come out, the sparrows love the shrub, they congregate in it & last year i had a pair nest in it
Its great to have a bit of colour & scent in the garden this time of year.
Sorry to waffle on, but i love this shrub
Val
Think I best get some. Anyone know of any suppliers?
Best wishes
Stoat
I'm not bald. I've just got ingrowing hair!
most good garden centres should have them
val
I'm glad you have put this thread up Ian as I am looking for a honeysuckly to train on the fencing. It looks lovely will have to have a look for one of these (or twomaybe lol)
Sue
Unknown said: I'm glad you have put this thread up Ian as I am looking for a honeysuckly to train on the fencing. It looks lovely will have to have a look for one of these (or twomaybe lol) Sue
Please note it is not like other Honeysuckles its more a Shrub :-)
Chris S.
A very old Shropshire Lad.
Sounds great, I'll check on that and see if we have room. Thanks Ian
I have this shrub, I wouldn’t be without it. On a sunny day in January there were 10 honey bees feasting on it, in February it was feeding the queen Bumble bees and today there were two queens and six workers plus one Tortoise shell butterfly.
Build it and they will come.
Thanks! Trying to fill in some bare areas and that sounds perfect! :D
Just a quick pic post to show one of the bees enjoying the shrubby honeysuckle last week!