What is this plant?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by folko ono on March 8, 2013 at 19:54

I'm not 100% sure but it could be winter honeysuckle... Anyone?

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 8, 2013 at 20:31

ah i think it smelled like a honey suckle!

Permalink Reply by Sam R on March 8, 2013 at 22:04

Yes definitely looks like a winter flowering honeysuckle. Beautiful

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 9, 2013 at 8:07

Thanks everyone. It is really lovely. I might have to try to buy one! Especially as it was growing so well in a medium sized pot. It looked about 1.75m high and had loads of flowers!

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on March 9, 2013 at 6:41

Could it be a species of magnolia?

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 9, 2013 at 8:07

I reckon it was probably honeysuckle now I think about the way it smelled. although I'm not sure what magnolias smell like... maybe they are similar?

Permalink Reply by Ewan Alexander on March 9, 2013 at 11:30

Hi Sally,

You're right, it's a honeysuckle (Lonicera) tho' I'm not sure just which species it is. At the risk of sounding pedantic it isn't winter flowering (none I know of are) as it is now the Spring (yay!). 

If I can find out the species name I'll get back to you!

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 9, 2013 at 12:18

Ah excellent thanks Ewan! It is growing in a front garden just up stapletonhall road, opposite the library more or less, if you ever happen to walk that way!

Permalink Reply by Tessa on March 12, 2013 at 17:05

Hi everybody - yes, I do believe that this is lonicera fragrantissima (ie winter-flowering honeysuckle). They grow very big eventually - I have one in my back garden which is about 10ft x 8ft - but you could keep it quite small for a year or two in a pot.  Mine flowers from December to March depending on the weather.  They get a bit ungainly but smell magnificent.  

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 12, 2013 at 19:53

Thanks for providing the proper name for us! Why do you say that they would only keep in a pot for a year or two? What would happen after that time? (I'm new to gardening!).

Permalink Reply by Tessa on March 12, 2013 at 21:10

Hi Sally

Only mean that it would start to get too big for the pot - you could prune it back to keep it smaller for a year or two, but then it will need to be planted out into the garden (or put into a much bigger pot - which might not be practical).  If you think of growing (say) an oak tree in a pot - eventually you have to admit it needs more space! If you Google winter flowering honeysuckle you will find pix & more advice.  But would be fine for a couple of years as long as you kept it watered. They are rather dull in the summer & a bit ungainly - so if you had it in a pot, you could move it to a less conspicuous site when it has finished flowering. They used to have a lot of them in the rose garden at Ally Pally (where the little formal pond is on the way down the hill to Wood Green).  Not sure if they are still  but gives you an idea of what happens eventually! But it DOES definitely flower in the winter - so worth the effort. Usually the flowers come out before the leaves as you can see in the photo. It is very commonly available from garden centres, or you could order it on line. Hope that helps. 

Permalink Reply by Salsa on March 12, 2013 at 21:32

Ah great, really useful info - thank you!