How to Grow Coral Honeysuckle
The coral honeysuckle is a garden beauty that is a native of the United States, the flowers of these garden plants are shaped like tiny trumpets which are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies attracting them as they reach into these trumpet-like flowers extracting their nectar. If you’re in the market for a plant that will keep your garden buzzing with activity then the coral honeysuckle plant is the plant for you.
Planting Location
A location that gets full to partial sun is great to install your coral honeysuckle these trees can reach heights anywhere from 15-20 ft so give your coral honeysuckle adequate space to grow.
Soil Type
The soil type to grow your coral honeysuckle can be anywhere from medium loamy, clay loamy, or sandy loamy.
Watering Methods
Give your coral honeysuckle a good soaking then allow the soil allowed to dry out somewhat between watering before giving your honeysuckle another drink.
Fertilizing Methods
The best time to fertilize your coral honeysuckle is during spring with a triple ten or 10-101-10 fertilizer. Before fertilizing read and follow the manufacturer’s label because the label is the law.
Garden insect pests of coral honeysuckle
keep a watch for these garden insect pests and treat them as directed in order for your coral honeysuckle to grow its best.
- Scales
- Aphides
- Spider Mites
Scales
Scale insect is very tiny but can cause huge damage to your coral honeysuckle. These garden insect pests remain motionless causing much damage, the body of scale insects is round and looks like and armor. Scales also cause damage by sucking the plant’s fluids which contribute to the yellowing of the leaves, leaf drop, and sooty mold the use of insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, or releasing beneficial insects into your garden area will eliminate them.
Aphides
Aphids are small paired shape insects that cause damage by sucking the fluids or the sap from the plant’s leaves which cause the leaves to curl and turn yellow. These garden insect pests also cause black molds to form from their secretion which is known as sooty mold that causes the plant to take on a dusty dirty sickly appearance. The use of insecticidal soap will bring these garden insect pests under control.
Spider Mites
Spider mites are very tiny but can cause huge damage to our garden plants, to know if your plants have spider mites look for spider web along with your plant taking on a dusty appearance.
Spider mites cause yellowing of the leaves, removing the infested leaves along with leaves that are dead and applying insecticidal soap or horticultural oil will bring this garden insect pest under control
Caterpillars
Caterpillars also do their share of damage by eating holes in the plant’s leaves causing your coral honeysuckle to look unattractive. These garden pests will cause branch dieback, leaf drop, and in extreme cases the death of your plant.
Control caterpillars by handpicking and throwing them into a bucket of soapy water or by using Bacillus thuringiensis, horticultural oil, neem oil, or insecticidal soap will offer some help. Before using chemicals read and follow the manufacturer’s label because the label is the law.
Coral honeysuckle plant diseases
Coral honeysuckle plant has its share of disease, keeping a watch and treating them will bring them under control.
- Powdery Mildew
- Leaf Blight
- Leaf Spot
- Sooty Mold
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a white powdery looking substance that forms on the leaf surface, control this disease by watering plants early in the morning so that the leaves can have time to dry, applying baking soda to the plant’s leaves will offer some help also fungicide labeled to treat powdery mildew will help also.
Leaf Blight
This disease is influenced by a fungus during long rainy periods, signs of this leaf blight include spots that are circular and light-colored. A fungicide which is recommended for this disease will bring control.
Leaf Spot
Water your coral honeysuckle from the soil level, overhead irrigation or wetting the leaves is the cause of this disease. The use of a fungicide label for leaf spot will offer some help.
Sooty Mold
Sooty molds are formed by the secretion of sucking insects, these molds are black giving the plants a sickly dirty appearance which will take away from the beauty of your coral honeysuckle. For more on sooty mold follow this link sooty mold control.
Ideas on where to install the coral honeysuckle
Here are just a few places to install the coral honeysuckle
1. Installing them along a fenced area is great.
2. Planting them near a lattice where they can run looks amazing.
3. Letting them run and hang down an overhead beam.
4. Install your coral honeysuckle near a tree with a large truck and letting it attach to the trunk and run will work wonders.
5. Place your coral honeysuckle in containers and place the containers on either side of your door entrance.
6. Place the containers on your porch or patio.
7. What about placing the containers around your pool area.
Growing coral honeysuckle in containers
A great way to grow the coral honeysuckle is with the help of containers. Here are the steps to take to ensure success.
1. When installing these garden beauties from containers, the containers should be large enough base on the size of your plant so they can sit comfortably.
2. The container should have drain holes to allow excess water to drain because if water has no way to escape your coral honeysuckle will suffer root rot.
3. The soil should be a good potting soil that has good drainage
4. Placing a layer or two of pebbles inside at the bottom of the container will be an added benefit for water drainage.
5. Half the container with soil then add your plant, continue to fill your container with soil. Add your trellis and firm the soil around your plant and the trellis.
6. Place the container or containers in an area that gets full to partial sunlight.
7. Give the soil a good soaking but remember to allow the soil to dry out between watering because too much moisture will lead to root rot.
8. Feed your coral honeysuckle plant as directed above.
A word of caution
The berries of the coral honeysuckle are known to be poisonous so keep these plants in a secure area away from children and pets.
The final word
The coral honeysuckle plant is so amazing, These garden beauties can work wonders as they climb a fenced area a trellis, lattice, etc.. the flower display of this plant is so beautiful and the best part is that they attract wildlife which is an added benefit so let your garden and landscape buzz with activity as hummingbirds and butterflies move about collecting nectar what a great way to watch nature at it’s best.
About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.