Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas'
Overview
Uses: Arbors, trellises, fences, garden walls, entryways, cottage gardens.
Benefits: One of the most intensely fragrant honeysuckle varieties available, with a sweet evening scent that carries well beyond the immediate planting. Creamy white flowers age to warm yellow with no trace of pink, providing a clean, elegant color palette. Long bloom season from early summer through September with sporadic rebloom. Red berries in fall attract songbirds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Vine
Growth Habit: Climbing — vigorous twining vine.
Bloom Color: White to Yellow
Mature Height: 15–20 feet
Mature Width: 6–10 feet
Bloom Season: Early summer through early fall
Growth Rate: Fast
Summary
Graham Thomas Honeysuckle is the fragrance lover’s honeysuckle. Named after the legendary English horticulturist Graham Stuart Thomas, who discovered this selection growing in a Warwickshire hedgerow in the 1960s, it produces the purest, sweetest evening fragrance of any honeysuckle variety — a scent that intensifies as the day cools and moths arrive as the plant’s natural pollinators.
The flowers are elegant in their simplicity: creamy white tubular blooms open from white buds and slowly age to warm, buttery yellow with no trace of pink or purple. They are produced freely from June through September, creating a long season of fragrance and gentle color that is perfectly suited to cottage gardens, entryway plantings, and anywhere you want to linger on a summer evening.
By fall, clusters of bright red berries develop among the dark green foliage, providing food for songbirds and extending the vine’s ornamental value into the cooler months. The foliage is deciduous in colder zones but may hold semi-evergreen in mild winters. Graham Thomas received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit in 1993 — a recognition of its outstanding garden performance.
Care
Graham Thomas Honeysuckle Care
Plant with roots in shade and the top growth climbing toward sun for the best performance — this mimics the vine’s natural hedgerow habitat. Full sun is tolerated in cooler climates, and partial shade is preferred in warmer zones. Graham Thomas grows in a wide range of soils including clay, loam, and sandy soils. It prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich conditions but is surprisingly drought tolerant once established.
Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, supplemental watering is needed only during extended dry periods. Fertilize lightly in spring with a slow release fertilizer if desired. Provide a sturdy trellis, arbor, fence, or wall for the twining stems.
Graham Thomas blooms on old wood. Prune after the main flush of flowering in early summer to maintain shape and size. The vine can be cut back hard if it becomes overgrown, though this will temporarily reduce flowering. Remove dead or congested growth as needed.
Size
What Size is the Graham Thomas Honeysuckle for Sale Online?
Our Graham Thomas Honeysuckle ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Graham Thomas Honeysuckle Grow?
Graham Thomas is a vigorous vine that reaches 15 to 20 feet with adequate support. It can add significant growth each season and may need periodic pruning to keep it in bounds.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
This plant is commonly known as Graham Thomas Honeysuckle, Common Honeysuckle, European Honeysuckle, and Woodbine. The species Lonicera periclymenum is sometimes called Dutch Honeysuckle.
How fragrant is Graham Thomas Honeysuckle?
Graham Thomas is considered one of the most fragrant honeysuckle varieties available. The scent is sweet and intensifies in the evening, as moths are its natural pollinators. Plant near a patio, bench, or bedroom window where the fragrance can be enjoyed during warm summer evenings. Browse our Flowering Vines & Climbing Plants collection for more fragrant vine options.
Is Graham Thomas Honeysuckle invasive?
Lonicera periclymenum is a European species that has naturalized in some areas of North America but is generally not considered invasive. Unlike Japanese honeysuckle, it does not typically escape cultivation aggressively. It is a manageable garden vine with regular pruning.
Is Graham Thomas Honeysuckle deer resistant?
Yes. European honeysuckle is considered resistant to both deer and rabbits, and is also tolerant of black walnut toxicity. Explore our deer-resistant plants collection for more options.
