Lonicera novso Honey Baby ®

Inventor : Boskoop  Research Station for Ornamental Horticulture (The Netherlands)

Plants: Honey Baby is not to be a climber but is a bush, and can be placed in the garden as a specimen, hedge or container planting to enjoy the wonderful perfume and unique beauty from dawn until dusk! After ten years of trials by plant breeders and scientists in Boskoop, Holland, the very specific criteria of creating a compact growing shrub instead of the usual vine form was met. Honey Baby is excellent as a pot plant for balcony and terrace, suitable for a 2.5-3 litre container. It can also be placed on the window sill in a sunny place.

Lonicera Honey Baby was crossed between Lonicera japonica  Halliana and Lonicera periclymenum ‘Belgica Select’ to achieve this wonderful plant. A Silver Certificate of Valuation was awarded in Holland by the Dutch Nurseryman.

Flowers abundantly grow in racemes together, first, buds appear purplish red, opening to colors of soft cream, light yellow and then to lemon yellow, while emitting a delightful perfume.  Red berries appear in the Fall.

Colour: soft cream to lemon yellow
Blooming Season: July through October
Zone: 4-9
Mature Height:  H 20 cm x W 30 cm

Care: Not a climber but a bush, in propagating the cuttings should not be taken from from any trailing vines that may occasionally  appear on the bush. The odd bit of pruning to remove such growths can be removed to keep a shrub appearance.

Tolerates most soils, winter hardy, best in full sun to part sun. Can be cut back each year to keep a nice compact bush shape.