Gardening Guides
Central Plains Gardening
Great Design Plant: Kintzley's Ghost Honeysuckle
Looking for a versatile plant with beautiful color and texture? This unusual honeysuckle may be just the ticket
Silvery-blue foliage is a must in the summer garden; its calming coolness soothes like water. Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle (Lonicera reticulata) not only has beautiful “ghosted” blue bracts (specialized leaves), but its vining habit makes it useful for providing shade and privacy in the garden as well.
Distinguishing traits: Small tubular yellow flowers are backed by silver dollar-like round bracts reminiscent of Eucalyptus.
How to use it: Plant Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle where you can enjoy its ghostly white color in the low evening light. A single specimen makes a stunning vertical accent plant, or plant several as a screen. As a twining-type vine, it will grow best on a support structure with small-diameter components such as lattice, chain link, wrought iron, etc.
Growing Kintzley's Ghost honeysuckle on a larger post or wall surface will require the use of supplemental wire or cable supports. Alternatively, this honeysuckle would look wonderful planted on top of a retaining wall and allowed to ramble and drape over the wall’s face.
Create a dynamic companion planting by contrasting Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle with finely textured plants that have rich green foliage. Consider ornamental grasses, asters, tickseed (Coreopsis spp), and perennial geraniums (Geranium spp). Other options include woody shrubs such as alpine currant (Ribes alpinum), zones 2-6; Cheyenne mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii ‘Cheyenne’), zones 3-9; and North Star spruce (Picea glauca ‘North Star’), zone 3.
Planting notes. Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle can be grown easily in most soils, though they should be amended with organic matter. Plan on moderate watering once established.
See more great design flowers and plants, grasses and trees
See more great design flowers and plants, grasses and trees
Common name: Kintzley’s Ghost honeysuckle
USDA zones: 4 to 8 (find your zone)
Elevation range: Up to 8,000 feet
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Full to partial sun
Mature size: 8 to 12 feet tall; 3 to 6 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Adaptable to full sun and partial shade; attracts butterflies
When to plant: April to September
Seasonal interest: Deciduous. Yellow flowers in late spring followed by red berries in late summer; decorative bracts persist throughout the growing season.