Himalayan Honeysuckle

Started by Emm P, September 26, 2005, 18:10:23

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Emm P

I was given a young one of these this year.
Apparently they are a tender variety.
Does anyone know how far I should prune it back in the Autumn?
No outfit is complete - without dog hairs!!!

Emm P

No outfit is complete - without dog hairs!!!

Rosa_Mundi

Do you mean Leycesteria formosa? If so, it's not tender in N. Yorkshire, and is quite happy to seed itself about.
Pruning - in theory, you can cut it to about two foot, but I think it would be better to leave it alone if small - pruning can cause stems to die back, and might harm it if not well established. I tend to cut out dead stems every year, and trim excessively long ones by about half - it took a long time to recover from the only hard prune I gave it.

Mimi

Mine was over 7 ft high last year and on a friends advice I cut it right down to about 6 inches all over.  Poor thing is only about 3 1/2 ft this year.  I think that next time I shall take your advice Rosa.
Take time to stop and smell the flowers.

Rosa_Mundi

That's exactly what happened to me, Mimi - it sulked for ages  after a hard prune.

tilts

I agree, don't be too harsh and wait till the flowers have finished late autumn. They are the most beautiful colour and make a lovely show, they seed everywherere.  The canes were used as pipes & musical instruments in their native environment. 
Tread softly or you'll tread on my dreams.....Yeats

Val

Glad you posted this Emm, I've had one for a couple of years and was wondering if to prune next spring, don't think I'll bother now, the birds like the berries and I love the plant and quite hapy for it to do its own thing, haven't had any seedlings from it yet though. :)
"I always wanted to be somebody…but I should have been more specific."

Emm P

@ Val  ;)

Many thanks Rosa - this one is about 3½ feet tall now.
I didn't know the Latin name for the plant.

The flowers are beautiful - so unusual for a Honeysuckle. They remind me of the shrimp plant flower - although a different colour.
No outfit is complete - without dog hairs!!!

tilts

It is also known as the Pheasant Berry....... if you've got one, you know why!
Tread softly or you'll tread on my dreams.....Yeats

Mimi

Or also Lycestria Formosa.  I think   :-\
Take time to stop and smell the flowers.

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