Horwood Gem Honeysuckle Plants

• Variety: Horwood Gem — scented cream and pink flowers, mottled foliage
• Latin name: Lonicera japonica 'Horwood Gem'
• Type: Japanese semi-evergreen honeysuckle
• Flower: Cream and yellow trumpets, flushed pink
• Scent: Sweetly fragrant
• Climbing method: Twining stems
• Height: To 6m
• Flowering: April–August
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• RHS AGM: No
• Sold as: P9 and 3L deep pots, grown from cuttings by us. Peat-free compost
• Plant outdoors: Year-round
• Delivered: March–November typically. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Horwood Gem Honeysuckle – Scented Flowers and Mottled Leaves

Horwood Gem is a Japanese honeysuckle with two reasons to grow it. First, the flowers: creamy-yellow trumpets flushed with pink, produced from April into August and sweetly scented in that unmistakable honeysuckle way — strongest in the evening, drifting across the garden on still summer nights. Second, the foliage: the leaves are lightly mottled and marbled, giving the plant ornamental interest even when it is not in flower.

As a Japanese type, it is semi-evergreen — holding most of its leaves through mild winters and dropping them only in prolonged cold. It reaches about 6m, which is enough to clothe a good-sized pergola, arch, or fence. It climbs by twining its stems around supports and is happy to scramble through larger shrubs or into trees, which is how wild honeysuckle behaves naturally in hedgerows.

Where Horwood Gem Works Best

Plant it near a path, a seating area, or an open bedroom window to make the most of the evening scent. It associates naturally with other cottage-garden climbers: train it through a climbing rose for the classic English combination of rose and honeysuckle on the same arch. For a wilder look, let it mingle with Halliana (cream, powerfully scented, same species) or use it to soften a utilitarian fence where its vigour is an asset. At the base, lavender extends the fragrance into daylight hours.

Why Ashridge?

We grow Horwood Gem ourselves from cuttings in peat-free compost. Every plant is guaranteed, delivered by next-day courier, and backed by Which? Best Plant Supplier. Somerset-based team on the phone if you need advice. See all our honeysuckle varieties, or browse the full climbing plant range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Horwood Gem honeysuckle evergreen?

Semi-evergreen. In mild winters and sheltered spots, most leaves persist through to spring. In colder areas, some or all of the foliage drops but the plant regrows quickly from its woody framework. The mottled leaves are attractive enough to notice their absence.

How do I prune Horwood Gem honeysuckle?

After flowering finishes, tidy back any stems that have outgrown their space. Remove dead or crossing stems to improve airflow — good circulation reduces the risk of powdery mildew, which is the one problem honeysuckles are prone to. Do not cut back hard routinely; honeysuckle flowers best on semi-mature wood. If the plant is badly overgrown, a hard renovation prune in late winter is possible — it will take a year to recover and flower again.

Does Horwood Gem need full sun?

Partial shade suits it well. In the wild, honeysuckle climbs into sunlight through the dappled canopy of hedgerows. A position where the top growth reaches the sun while the roots stay cool in shade reproduces those conditions naturally. Full afternoon sun in an exposed spot can stress the plant in hot summers.

Will Horwood Gem honeysuckle attract wildlife?

The scented flowers draw moths and other night-flying pollinators. The berries that follow in autumn feed birds, particularly thrushes and warblers. Honeysuckle is also a favoured nesting habitat. It is one of the best climbers for wildlife gardening.