If you get up this way I know Troy's Tropics in Sarasota has some good size vines in three gallon pots for 9.95.

I have some and love it! It definitely follows the growth behavior of vines that sleep, creep, and finally leap! This is my 'leap year', so to speak.

You are correct, the box stores do not seem to carry coral honeysuckle. I bought two at a local nursery three years ago. One is doing great (the leap) and the other is struggling.

I have tried to grow from cuttings and from seed without much success. It may just be me and my yard that's the problem and not the vine itself.

It's rather surprising to me that it's a native vine because it seems like it needs so much attention to get started. It does need regular watering until it's established and then is more drought tolerant.

I have not seen any Hummingbirds enjoying it as of yet, but am hopeful. Still...a pretty vine to look at!

Marcia, Twin Cedars Nursery in Brooksville has it, they are on Hwy. 50.

I Googled Hummingbird plants and there are Nurseries that carry it, mail-order.... also Google Coral Honeysuckle and see what comes up.... Google is my best friend ! sally

I saw a few mail order places that have the vine, but kind of pricey because of the shipping. I haven't yet heard from the local nurseries I emailed. I should probably call them instead. Rita, Twin Cedars Nursery is about 2 hours from here, so probably will wait on that road trip :-)

Thanks for the help. I'll stay on the hunt.
Marcia

Cindygardens, didn't notice your note about Troy's Tropics. That wouldn't be too far from me if I can't find it closer. I'd definitely call ahead in case they've sold out.
Marcia

Don't know where you are, but Biosphere carries this plant, as does Lukas Nursery at times. I got my last one at Designing Women on SR46 west of Sanford, but I have seen them in my local Home Depot, too.

My plant is looking great this year, and is being visited daily by hummers. I see both a female and a male coming in now. It is by far the biggest draw for them in my yard, though when my black & blue salvias bloom, they will visit them regularly, too. Also blue fortune agastache, and Gartenmeister fuchsia...the orange star shaped bloom on dark, velvety leaves. It's very heat tolerant and the hummers love it.

You might call several of your box stores to see if any have it in. As I say, my local HD often does have it. But if you can get to Biosphere (Winter Garden), it's well worth a trip. Lots of hummer plants to be had there.
And my coral honeysuckles was one of very few plants that didn't even drop a leaf (or a single flower) during my horrible yard-destroying freezes this year. I just love it.

Marcia

Very nice, Marcia. I will definitely keep looking for that vine. We're about 35 miles south of Sarasota. I'm glad you mentioned your fuchsia--I have seen those at Lowe's but didn't know anything about them and they weren't labeled with the name. I might pick one up. Thanks for the comments and photo.
(another) Marcia

marcia, the one you gave me last year has put on tons of growth this season (after sleeping, as they say), and is blooming well... i'm a little worried about how vigorous it's become. thanks!

I stopped by there after work today,I'd say they have about 10 of them.

Thanks, Cindy.
Marcia

Hi, Michael! *waving*

I have never had it go out of bounds. I mean, it's vigorous, yes, but nothing like, say...SHELL VINE! Eeek.
Or even blue sky thunbergia. It doesn't seem to take over trees or entire property line fences, anyway. I'm glad it's doing well for you, and hopefully, you won't have any trouble with it. (I've seen people just trim them back if they got a wee bit out of bounds, so that's probably an option, too.)

The hummers sure do love it.

Marcia, give the Gartenmeister fuchsia some afternoon shade or at least filtered light, and it should bloom all summer long. Then they tend to decline, but seem to come back from the roots the following year. I keep mine in containers so I can move them if an area begins to get too sunny during the season. I just love this plant!

Marcia

Thanks for posting the pics of the Hummer plants, I'm looking for some myself, I had a hummer in my garden on Sunday and need some ideas for plants they like, I have a big area under a huge Magnolia that only gets afternoon sun, so need plants in pots that don't freeze to replace the ones that froze in January, and hummer plants sound good.... Thanks, sally

Thanks for the photos, Marcia. I'm hoping Lowe's still has some of those fuchsia. I also had an email from Edgewood nursery in Venice that they have one gallon honeysuckle plants. I'm hoping to get there this afternoon or tomorrow to buy one (or maybe two--I could take one back to PA with me!).
Marcia PA/FL

Got my honeysuckle this afternoon--I'm a happy gardener! I also got two fuchsia. I'll put one in a shady spot and keep one in a pot. I'll be digging tomorrow.

Thanks for all your advice.
Marcia PA/FL

Marcia, if you were able to get the Gartenmeister fuchsia (like above), it loves morning sun. If you have a half day shade place, it will probably do very well until later in the year when the heat gets overwhelming.

When do you go back to PA?

Marcia

Marcia, I have a place in the front of our house, a northeast-facing spot, that I'm going to try the fuchsia. It gets morning sun but afternoon shade. The fuchsia in the pot will go back to PA with me and I hope I can keep it alive and bring it south again in the fall. (I also bought a second honeysuckle for my PA garden!)

I have mixed feelings about leaving here--the end of this month is our target date. (Our back door neighbor has promised to water some things for me if we have a dry spring/summer.) While I'll miss seeing how my Florida garden will grow (or not!) over the next couple of months, I'm anxious to see how the bad winter has treated my garden in PA. I'm sure the weeds are doing fine!

We're planning to come back here for a few weeks this summer. That will give me a chance to see how the weeds are growing, tend to the garden, and we can make a few trips to the beach :-)

Thanks to all of the Florida GW gardeners who have answered my questions and with their photos and suggestions have given me a list of plants I want to grow here.
Marcia PA/FL