Honeysuckle

[lesleygl]

I want to plant a honeysuckle to help with pollination of my vegetable growing. Any suggestions to the best variety please?

[chris]

I don't think it really matters, they smell nice and attract bees due to the flowers

I'd choose one that suited to the aspect/position where you're planning on putting it. (partial shade/full sun, etc)

[rustylady]

Honeysuckle is basically a woodland plant, so likes semi-shade. It also gets very tall and needs something to climb / cling to.

[Ant]

I want to plant a honeysuckle to help with pollination of my vegetable growing. Any suggestions to the best variety please?

Dont know much about Honeysuckle,but I do know that Aldi are doing several varieties today (Thurs 19th May) for £4:99p. They are in two litre pots and approx 3ft tall

[Two_Sheds]

Belgica is one of the earliest ones (it's flowering now), however bees need early spring food like dandelions

[Flummery]

My favourite is Graham Thomas. It was taken as cuttings from a wild one and is the most fabulously frangrant I've ever known. Not sure about putting it near a veg plot - it can get quite rampant.

[mothhawk]

I don't think I would put a honeysuckle too close to a veg plot. It's scent is strongest in the evening and at night, because it is pollinated by nocturnal moths, (which have longer tongues than bees, to get in the tubular flowers), and think of all those caterpillar pests you get on fruit and veg.
You'd be supplying food for the adult moths, who would then look around for a handy place to lay their eggs.....

[SarzWix]

I have a massive honeysuckle (inherited), growing along a fence at the allotment. It smells gorgeous all the time, and I haven't noticed any problems with moths?! The sparrow population seem to adore it too, there seems to be 5 or 6 of them in among it at any one time! Not sure what they get up to in there, but as long as it distracts them from pecking at my peas, I'm happy