Lonicera periclymenum Belgica

Lonicera periclymenum 'Belgica' is a variety of woodbine honeysuckle that has many advantages. With fast growth, it is an excellent climber for quickly covering a trellis. Throughout the summer, it produces aesthetically pleasing tricoloured flowers, white, yellow, and red, that are pleasantly fragrant. These are followed by small, highly decorative bright red berries. Hardy and easy to cultivate, this plant prefers humus-rich, well-drained soils that are somewhat moist, and can grow in both full sun and partial shade.

Lonicera periclymenum belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family, which blesses us with so many essential ornamental genera (Abelia, Kolkwitzia, Weigela, Viburnum, Symphoricarpos...) as well as lesser-known but equally interesting ones (Heptacodium or Dipelta, for example...). Lonicera periclymenum is our woodbine honeysuckle, whose natural distribution area covers all of Western Europe, from Spain to southern Scandinavia, demonstrating its great adaptability.  In the wild, it develops strong voluble stems of 3 metres (10 feet) or more that spontaneously wind around neighbuoring shrubs and trees. This wild honeysuckle has given rise to numerous cultivars with flowers of different colours.

The 'Belgica' honeysuckle is close to the species type, from which it has retained its vigour, as it grows rapidly to reach heights of up to 5 metres (16 feet) or more, with a width of about 3 metres (10 feet). Its robust stems bear elliptical leaves, medium green and glaucous on the underside, which persist to a greater or lesser extent during mild winters. The leaves are arranged in pairs, on either side of the stem. In June, coloured floral buds (red-purple) appear, which then give way to tubular flowers from August to September. These flowers form at the tips of the shoots from the current year, and are gathered in generous, powerfully fragrant clusters that perfume the entire summer. Highly visited by pollinating insects, they are followed by the formation of highly decorative bright red berries, about 5 mm (0.2in) in diameter. These fruits are highly appreciated by birds, but be careful, as they are slightly toxic to humans.
This honeysuckle grows in neutral or slightly acidic soil, disliking limestone. It prefers humus-rich, fairly rich and fresh soils, even moist, especially if planted in full sun. In partial shade, it will be more tolerant of soil humidity, tolerating dry periods once well-rooted. Nevertheless, it is always preferable to water it occasionally in summer to promote its flowering. Hardy, -20°C (-4°F) approximately, this climber is easy to cultivate, requiring only a little pruning after flowering to limit its growth and rejuvenate its shoots.

'Belgica' will be superb trained against a wall, on a trellis or fence, on an arch or pergola, preferably near the patio, the entrance of the house, or a door to fully enjoy its fragrance, which is particularly heady in the evening. Alternatively, it can also make good groundcover in a wild corner of the garden. You can associate it with other vigorous climbers to cover a large area, and by choosing staggered flowering, you can enjoy them for a good part of the year. An excellent choice in this regard would be to adopt Clematis 'Mayleen', a superb variety with fragrant pink flowers in May, which will precede this honeysuckle. In a not too harsh climate, Passiflora caerulea will enchant you from late summer until October with its sculptural flowers, unlike any other.