Purpurea Japanese Honeysuckle

Purpurea Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea')

Purpurea Japanese Honeysuckle is a vigorous twining vine with purple-tinged leaves, reddish stems, and highly fragrant white flowers that age to creamy yellow from late spring into summer. Train on supports or contain its spread for controlled, seasonal perfume and foliage color.

Distinctive Features

Purple cast to new foliage and stems contrasts with tubular blooms prized for evening fragrance; rapid growth quickly cloaks arbors, trellises, and fences.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade; heaviest bloom in full sun.
• Soil: Well drained, average garden soil; tolerates poorer soils once established.
• Water: Moderate; water to establish, then deep, occasional soaks in dry periods.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9.
• Mature Size: Vines typically 10 to 20 ft long with support; size varies with training and climate.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Fragrant blooms and purple-tinged foliage create a scented vertical accent.
• Trellises and Arbors: Quickly covers structures for seasonal shade and privacy.
• Fences and Screens: Trains easily along wires to soften boundaries.
• Banks and Slopes: Can be managed as a binding groundcover in controlled sites.
• Containers: Grow in large pots with a support to limit spread.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: Keep evenly moist the first season; water deeply during extended dry spells.
• Pruning: Prune hard in late winter to control size and encourage fresh flowering shoots; trim as needed in season.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly in spring if growth is weak; avoid excess nitrogen.
• Mulching: Apply a 2 inch mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds, keeping mulch off stems.
• Notes: Spreads vigorously; use barriers, containers, or regular pruning, and check local regulations regarding planting.

Why Choose Purpurea Japanese Honeysuckle?

• Fragrance: Sweet evening scent attracts pollinators and enhances outdoor spaces.
• Seasonal Color: Purple-tinged foliage and creamy aging blooms add contrast.
• Fast Coverage: Rapid growth screens and shades quickly when managed.
• Versatile Training: Adapts to trellis, fence, arbor, or container culture.
• Low Input: Tolerant of average soils with modest water once established.

Provide sturdy support in full sun, prune back hard each winter, and manage runners promptly for a fragrant, well-behaved vertical display.