Photos and descriptions of amazingly beautiful varieties of honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is one of the earliest horticultural crops grown in Russia. Berries of fruit varieties have extraordinary healing properties, and ornamental types of shrubs are great for decorating and landscaping a garden plot. Most varieties bloom in early May, and the first fruits ripen in June. They contain many valuable vitamins and useful elements. The shrub is resistant to frost, moisture and shade. Some of its varieties have been growing and bearing fruit for 50 years.

There are a large number of different varieties of honeysuckle, they are classified according to the taste of the berries, the height of the bush, decorativeness and ripening times. Below is a description of the varieties of honeysuckle that are most popular in our country.

see also photo of honeysuckle Caprifol!

Honeysuckle Gourmet

An early fruitful variety. Main characteristics:

• the bush is medium-sized, compact, with an oval crown;
• oval leaves, light green, densely located on the shoot;
• fruits of honeysuckle Gourmet weighing 0.9 g, blue, edible, sweet and sour, not bitter;
• small fruit shedding;
• the yield of the variety is 2.5 kg - 3 kg;
• good resistance to disease and frost;
• fruits are eaten fresh and are excellent for processing;
• bushes are used to create hedge.

Like most varieties, Lakomka's honeysuckle is a self-fertile variety. The variety Malvina, Blue Spindle, Blue Bird is well suited for pollination.

Honeysuckle Malvin

High-yielding sweet variety. Main characteristics:

• bush of medium size, has an oval crown;
• leaves are dark green, densely located on the shoot;
• Malvina honeysuckle fruits weighing 1.1 g, blue, elongated pear-shaped, edible, sweet and sour, with a light aroma, fruit shedding is insignificant;
• the yield of the variety is 1.5–3 kg;
• good frost resistance;
• fruits are consumed fresh and processed, bushes are used in garden design.

To get a good harvest of Malvina's honeysuckle berries, it is recommended to thin out the shrub every 1–2 years, and completely cut out the old branches after 7–10 years.

Honeysuckle Bakchar's Pride

High-yielding variety. Main characteristics:

• medium spreading and medium-sized bush, leaves are green, oval;
• edible fruits, weighing 1.3 g, have an elongated pod-like shape, violet-blue in color, berries are sweet and sour in taste, with a slight bitterness;
• fruit shedding is strong;
• yield of honeysuckle Bakchar's pride - 2.5–3.5 kg;
• high resistance to pests, diseases and frost;
• fruits are consumed fresh, and also used for freezing, making jam or compote.

It is advisable to plant Pride Bakchar honeysuckle in a sunny and wind-protected area to prevent premature shedding of buds, flowers and fruits.

Roxanne's honeysuckle

Late grade. Main characteristics:

• medium-sized bush, has a wide-round crown, green leaves, elongated-oval;
• fruits weighing 0.9 g, elongated oval, blue, edible, sweet and sour, have a strawberry flavor and rich aroma, very easily crumble;
• yield of Roxan's honeysuckle - 1–1.5 kg;
• has high resistance to pests, diseases and frost;
• berries are very useful fresh, in addition they are used for processing.

Roxanne's honeysuckle does not tolerate stagnant water, therefore, if there is a possibility of flooding the bush, it is imperative to make drainage. Otherwise, the shrub will develop poorly, or disappear altogether.

Honeysuckle Berel

Medium late yielding variety. Main characteristics:

• tall shrub, with an oval crown shape;
• leaves are round-oval, dark green;
• edible fruits, weighing 0.9 g, blue;
• Berel honeysuckle berries are sweet and sour with a slight bitterness, do not fall off for a long time;
• the yield of the variety is 1.8–3 kg;
• characterized by good resistance to pests, diseases and frost;
• berries are used to make compote, natural juice, jam and food coloring;
• shrub is used for decorative gardening of the garden area.

The optimal period for planting Berel honeysuckle is autumn or early spring. The bushes are located at a distance of 1.5–2 m from other plants. Landing pit dimensions: depth 40 cm, diameter 60 cm.

Honeysuckle Gerd

Medium early grade. Main characteristics:

• the bush is compact, medium-sized, has a rounded crown;
• leaves are oblong-oval, light green;
• edible fruits, weighing 0.7-0.9 g, barrel-shaped, bluish-blue, sweet and sour;
• shedding of fruits of Gerd's honeysuckle is insignificant;
• the yield of the variety is 1.0–1.6 kg;
• good resistance to diseases, pests and severe frosts;
• berries are consumed fresh, and also processed.

Gerda's honeysuckle is a winter-hardy shrub. But in order to protect the bush from early frosts and snowless winters, it is necessary to mulch it with horse humus in the zone of the trunk circle.

Honeysuckle Sirotina

An ornamental long-flowering variety. Main characteristics:

• tall bush - 3-4 m in height, leaves of Sirotin's honeysuckle are dark green, on the other hand are gray, ovoid;
• flowering lasts from June to September, flowers are dark red, with a soft creamy heart, have a pleasant aroma;
• decorative berries, bright red, ripen from July to October;
• frost resistance is low, therefore it needs shelter;
• used for decoration gazebos and fences.

To ensure good rooting and growth of the shrub, when planting Sirotin's honeysuckle, it is recommended to add 1 bucket of compost or humus and half a liter of wood ash. In addition, half a bucket of neutral peat must be added to the pit.

Maak's honeysuckle

Decorative grade. Main characteristics:

• tall shrub, up to 5 m tall, straight crown, wide;
• leaves are dark green, on the other hand light green, ovoid;
• Maak's honeysuckle blooms in late May - early June with white flowers;
• berries are inedible, small, round, do not fall off for a long time;
• has good frost resistance, resistance to pests and diseases;
• used for the decoration of garden plots.

The lower part of the trunk of Maack's honeysuckle is most often exposed, so it is necessary to carry out pruning, which contributes to the formation of a dense bush.

Honeysuckle Hekroth

Decorative, liana-like variety. Main characteristics:

• liana 3-5 m in length, the upper leaves are green, resembling cuffs, inside which there is a flower, the lower ones are ordinary, dense;
• flowering of Hekroth's honeysuckle lasts from June to August;
• flowers are large, raspberry-orange;
• inedible fruits, pea-sized, red;
• resistance to frost is low, shelter is required for the winter;
• used for decorative design of gazebos, verandas and other objects.

For good growth, it is advisable to plant Hecroth's honeysuckle in partial shade. In direct sunlight, it can only be grown with good watering and mulched soil. In the shade, the shrub does not bloom.

All varieties are completely unpretentious to care for, so growing will not cause much trouble. It is only necessary to choose the right variety of honeysuckle according to the description, and after a while you can enjoy the beautiful appearance of the flowering shrub or the excellent taste of aromatic fruits.

Decorative and edible honeysuckle - video