why no flowers on my honeysuckles?

[peppertree]

I have 2honeysuckles in my sunny backgarden, no idea of the variety as self seeded but they look very healthy leafwise but never any flowers!
What am i doing wrong please?!

[onefewernow]

I'm not sure but I did once plant one in shade which took two or three years to get there. Maybe feeding right now would help, eg a good flower or tomato food, high in potash.

[purplewithred]

How old are they? Many honeysuckles including e native one flower on last years growth so you won't get flowers on this years fresh leafy growth. Also your self seeded ones may not be that prolific flowerers.

[Torrorosso]

I have this too! A horticulturalist told me to try a high potash feed, so I'm giving it one last chance with that this summer.

Mine is in dire need of pruning too, but that will have to wait until autumn I think.

[iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

Copy 'n pasted

1. Inadequate light ? full sun is generally suggested for most honeysuckle vines.
   
2. Juvenility ? plants may flower the first season but could require up to three seasons to settle before putting on adequate growth.
   
3. Improper pruning ? ?Dropmore Scarlet? honeysuckle usually flowers on laterals produced from previous season's growth; if you prune those, you will eliminate next season?s flowers.
   
4. Excessive fertilizer ? honeysuckle requires average soil fertility with adequate moisture during growing season.
   
5. Winter damage ? growing less winter-hardy cultivars other than "Dropmore Scarlet".
   

Or from gardeners world


Don't prune off the new growth, this will produce the flowers next year - it would be a bit much to expect it to flower the first year of being planted out - it will have been quite small and it flowers on the previous year's growth.

Check that it's roots aren't too wet. Remember that it's a woodland plant, and by it's nature woodland soil tends towards being dry in the summer as the trees take up most of the moisture. However it is a fine line because if it gets too dry at the base you (or rather the honeysuckle) might get powdery mildew - but that's just one of the things you have to put up with occasionally in order to get those glorious blooms and sensational perfume on summer evenings - but you'll have to wait until next year.

Oh, you might want to shorten the ends of any long branches a bit, just to encourage sideshoots.

[iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

Ps,

I love honeysuckle. I have planted two big bushes last winter. I really hope they flower. One seems quite rampant....