Q. I’ve been given a winter-flowering honeysuckle, and it’s been suggested that I plant it at the base of a (mature) apple tree. Would this be likely to cause either plant problems? My garden is directly south facing.
-London, United Kingdom
A. If your winter-flowering honeysuckle is Lonicera fragrantissima or Lonicera purpusii Winter Beauty they will grow to be a large shrub, probably 6-ft. tall and 8-ft. wide. If your apple tree has a high canopy and you don’t need to get up the trunk to pick them, then this won’t be a problem, as the Honeysuckle doesn’t mind some shade in summer. The main problem will be digging a large enough hole for the roots of the honeysuckle without damaging the tree roots, and if you are planting it now in June, keeping it well enough watered while it establishes.
They do smell fantastic in winter and early spring, and are great for getting bees into your garden very early in the season, so a great addition.
Claire Brown, Plant Passion
Advising gardeners & enhancing gardens in the Guildford and Horsley, UK area
