Lonicera 'Mandarin'

Lonicera 'Mandarin' (Honeysuckle) is a fast growing, twining vine with lush foliage and clusters of blooms. It is a hybrid between Lonicera brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet' and Lonicera tragophylla, and was introduced by the University of British Columbia. The Royal Horticultural Society has given this hybrid cultivar its coveted Award of Garden Merit.

It is sterile cultivar, does not fruit or seed – and puts all of its energy into its 3” long, tubular flowers, which are a brilliant burnt red orange outside, and pale apricot inside. This orange honeysuckle vine has a wonderfully long blooming season – from late spring to early fall. Although it has little fragrance, it attracts pollinators to the garden.

It is decorative from early spring when the pink veined, purple leaves leaf out (quickly turning a glossy green), and all through summer, when clusters of blooms proliferate. A great vine for screening, it requires a sturdy support. Growing to 15 ft., it quickly covers garden walls, trellises or arbours with lush vine and beautiful blooms.