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Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler'
Let it climb as a vine or form a shrubby mound.
Simply the best red-flowered honeysuckle ever grown, 'Major Wheeler' delights with its entirely mildew-free foliage! What a difference these lush leaves make ? they remain dense and lovely until frost, and the flowers keep coming as well, unbelievably abundant and not ready to quit until summer's end. And the habit is quite versatile, equally inclined to climb as a vine, mound up, or stretch along the garden floor. If you are partial to butterflies and hummingbirds, or if you need quick cover-up of a wall, fence, or unsightly garden presence, 'Major Wheeler' is waiting for you.
Each long, slender, trumpet-shaped bloom is a radiant shade of red with yellow tips and interiors. Hummingbirds take notice, and there are more blooms than you can imagine, appearing in large dangling clusters, all over this plant. They begin in late spring and last through summer, standing out brilliantly against the dark foliage.
Although 'Major Wheeler' grows most quickly and flowers most heavily in full sun, it can tolerate a bit of shade. Once established it is very drought tolerant, and of course it revels in the humidity that reduces older varieties to bare stems by summer's end. We highly recommend it for brilliant vertical color. Zones 4-8.
| Genus | Lonicera |
| Species | sempervirens |
| Variety | 'Major Wheeler' |
| Bloom Season | Late Spring - Late Summer |
| Habit | Vining |
| Zone | 4 - 8 |
| Plant Height | 6 ft - 8 ft |
| Plant Width | 6 ft - 8 ft |
| Bloom Size | 1 in - 1.5 in |
| Item Form | 4-inch Pot |
| Additional Characteristics | Butterfly Lovers, Easy Care Plants, Fragrance, Free Bloomer, Hummingbird Lovers, Long Bloomers, Repeat Bloomer, Season Extenders, Bloom First Year |
| Bloom Color | Red, Yellow, Multi-Color |
| Bloom Season | Spring, Summer |
| Foliage Color | Dark Green |
| Light Requirements | Full Sun, Part Shade |
| Moisture Requirements | Dry, Moist, well-drained |
| Resistance | Heat Tolerant, Pest Resistant, Downy Mildew, Drought Tolerant, Powdery Mildew |
| Soil Tolerance | Normal, loamy |
| Uses | Border, Outdoor, Vines and Climbers, Ground Cover |
| Restrictions | PR, CAN, HI |
- Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
- If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
- Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
- Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
- Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
- Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
- Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
- Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
- Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
- If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
- Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.
