How well does honeysuckle do in the Tulsa/BA area?

[nemesis]

I want to build a trellis in my backyard as a visual block. The plan was initially to grow wisteria but some of the posters here discouraged that.

What about honeysuckle? It seems to be a hardy plant and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Is there a downside?

thanx

 

[Kid Glock]

Not an expert and don't know any downside to honeysuckle.
The yellow honeysuckle in my yard seems to do better than the red growing next to it.

 

[Perplexed]

I planted three honeysuckles along a 15-foot long fence made out of wooden trellis nailed to the side/top of a railroad tie retaining wall. About 5 years later, I could not see the trellis, and the tendrils of honeysuckle were threatening to grow up small trees about 5 feet away. If you want to see how well honeysuckle grows on a chain link fence, drive down Garnett between 101st and 111th, next to the Cedar Ridge Country Club - they planted honeysuckle along their fence about 10-12 years ago, and the results today are impressive.

I only saw a few hummingbirds or butterflies on my honeysuckle, but I did see lots of bees.

 

[mr ed]

Once it gets established its hard to get rid of. You have to watch out as with any vine type plant the runners will work their way into the joints and pop them apart. Just keep it trimmed and annually remove the dead stuff so it doesn't get too heavy and collapse the trellis.

 

[okav8tor]

Too well in my experience.

 

[WTJ]

Too well in my experience.

Yeah, I wondered. I remember as a kid having to repeatedly destroy the crap to keep it from destroying fences.

 

[-Pjackso]

Take note that there are 'vine' type honeysuckle, and then there is 'bush' type honeysuckle.
I planted some honeysuckle expecting it to creep up to the top of arbor (~12 ft), but the damned thing stopped at 5 foot.
(Apparently I planted the 'bush' type. Don't get me wrong - I like bush's, just not this time.)


Things that make be leery of it now...
I visited a friends house which had Honeysuckle grown along the chain-link fence. The honeysuckle had long-since died, and left a big mess of twigs intertwined in the fence.
Not that big of a deal I guess - it'll just be a once every 7(?) year job.


We've also thought of trumpet-vines. They do really well also on fences. ...but maybe too-well.

 

[orangeRcode]

Too well in my experience.

It will thrive here. Almost too well. Once it is established you will need to trim it or it will take over quickly. I have a 12 foot section on fence that I use to put our dogs in if we have utility workers etc in our back yard. It makes a great cover and smells awesome in the spring.

 

[Billybob]

You might consider Privet hedge, it can be shaped, manipulated, and controlled easier than vines.

 

[otis147]

why not wild roses and broad? grows well, adds thorn security, and lots of food value... prickley pear, too...