Kamperfoelie struik

Lonicera fragrantissima

Engels: Winter Honeysuckle

shrubCaprifoliaceae

Kamperfoelie struik (Lonicera fragrantissima) is a shrub from the Caprifoliaceae family that grows up to 250cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and requires low maintenance. Blooms in winter and spring with white flowers and attracts bees and birds.

Hoogte

150–250 cm

Breedte

150–250 cm

Zonligging

full sun, partial shade

Waterbehoefte

moderate

Grondsoort

loam, clay soil, sandy soil

Onderhoud

low maintenance

Bloeitijd

winter, spring

Bloemkleuren

white

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Trekt vogels aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
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Care tips

Planting

Winter honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub best planted in October, November or March, when the soil is workable and the plant is dormant or just breaking dormancy. Choose a position in full sun or partial shade; the shrub tolerates a range of light conditions but flowers most reliably with at least half a day of sun. It adapts to most soil types—loam, clay or sandy—provided drainage is reasonable. Avoid waterlogged ground. Prepare the planting site by digging a hole roughly twice the width of the root ball and the same depth. Break up compacted soil at the base and sides of the hole to encourage roots to spread. If your soil is heavy clay, fork in some grit or coarse organic matter to improve structure. On sandy soils, incorporate garden compost or well-rotted manure to help retain moisture. Set the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil—planting too deep can lead to stem rot. Backfill with the excavated soil, firming gently with your heel as you go to eliminate air pockets. Space plants 200 cm apart if you're planting a hedge or informal screen; winter honeysuckle grows to 150–250 cm in both height and spread, so it needs room. Water thoroughly after planting, even in autumn or early spring, to settle the roots. Apply a 5–7 cm layer of mulch—bark chips, leaf mould or garden compost—around the base, keeping it clear of the stem itself. No staking is usually necessary. Water regularly through the first growing season if rainfall is sparse, especially on free-draining sandy soils.

Pruning

Winter honeysuckle flowers on the previous season's wood, producing its fragrant white blooms from late winter into spring. Prune immediately after flowering finishes, in April or May, to avoid cutting off next year's flower buds. If you prune in autumn or winter, you'll remove the stems that carry the current season's blossom. This shrub has a naturally arching, somewhat sprawling habit and doesn't require heavy pruning to stay healthy. The main aim is to keep the plant tidy, encourage vigorous new growth, and prevent it becoming too congested. Use clean, sharp secateurs or loppers for stems up to about 2 cm thick; a pruning saw is useful for older, thicker branches. Start by removing any dead, damaged or diseased wood, cutting back to healthy tissue or to the base if necessary. Then take out one or two of the oldest, woodiest stems at ground level each year; this rejuvenates the shrub and makes space for younger, more floriferous growth. Thin out crossing or rubbing branches in the centre to improve air circulation and light penetration. You can shorten wayward shoots by up to a third to maintain shape, cutting just above an outward-facing bud. Avoid shearing the whole plant into a formal shape—winter honeysuckle looks best with a loose, informal outline. If an old, neglected specimen has become overgrown, you can renovate it by cutting all stems back hard to 30–50 cm in late spring, but expect little or no flower the following winter as the plant recovers.

Maintenance

Winter honeysuckle is low-maintenance once established. Water regularly during the first year, especially in dry spells, to help roots establish. After that, the shrub is fairly drought-tolerant and usually needs watering only during prolonged summer dry periods. On sandy soils, check moisture levels more frequently. Clay and loam soils generally retain enough moisture without intervention. Avoid waterlogging; moderate water need means the soil should stay evenly moist but never sodden. Feed once a year in March with a general-purpose granular fertiliser such as blood, fish and bone or Growmore, scattered around the base at the rate recommended on the packet. Alternatively, apply a 5 cm layer of well-rotted compost or manure as a mulch in early spring; this feeds the soil and suppresses weeds in one go. Renew mulch annually to maintain soil structure and moisture retention. Winter honeysuckle is hardy in zones 4a–8b and requires no special winter protection in temperate Europe. The flowers appear on bare stems in late winter and are valued for their sweet fragrance, so site the plant near a path or door where you'll notice the scent on mild days. Pests and diseases are rarely a problem. Aphids occasionally colonise soft new growth in spring; a strong jet of water or an insecticidal soap usually deals with them. Powdery mildew can appear on foliage in dry summers, particularly in sheltered spots with poor air circulation, but it's mostly cosmetic and doesn't seriously harm the plant. Ensure good spacing and thin congested growth during pruning to reduce the risk. No routine spraying is necessary.