Lonicera spp. calcarata; subequale; hildebrandiana
With this sunny Summer weather and long days at this time of the year the Lonicera spp have been looking spectacular around the walled garden. A large genus with the three plants here showing some of the range in the flowering and habit that they are capable of.
The first one, (calcarata), is a strong growing climber from Sichuan in China. It is growing over a camellia next to the garden wall as can be seen in the image here but Mikinori Ogisu who introduced this plant advises giving it a large tree to scramble into. He has seen it in its natural habitat at least twenty metres high when given enough light next in marginal forested areas.
The second, (subequale), also originated from a Ogisu collection in China. Much less vigorous than the previous sp. the flower bunches emerge from a curious hat like protective lid. Ogisu says that this plant is most often seen in wetter areas in the natural forests where it perches epiphytically in the canopy trees.
The third, (hildebrandiana), known as the giant Burmese honeysuckle has been in cultivation for well over a hundred years. It is rather more tender than the previous two plants and this image was taken in the greenhouse where the scent fills the whole area. The spectacular yellow and white flowers are the largest of the genus and continue appearing all Summer.
