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Lonicera 'Mandarin'
A cultivar registered by UBC Botanical Garden with the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation and the International Registration Authority.
United States Patent PP11083
Quick Facts
UBC Botanical Garden Accession: 32362-0051-1989
Botanical Name: Lonicera hybrid
Cultivar: 'Mandarin'
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Common Name: Mandarin honeysuckle
Origin
An intentional garden hybrid by Dr. Wilf Nicholls of UBC Botanical Garden in 1989. A hybrid between Lonicera tragophylla and Lonicera × brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet'. It flowered for the first time in 1991.
General Description
Vigorous deciduous woody vine to 6m at maturity. Young stems dark purplish-brown and young leaves dark coppery-brown, becoming glossy dark green when mature. Leaves on flowering stems 5 cm x 3 cm. Flowers are produced in large heads in May and June (in Vancouver) then periodically throughout the summer. Long tubular flowers (6 to 7 cm long) are dark reddish-orange outside and paler yellow-orange on the inside. Whole flower effect is an intense orange colour (hence 'Mandarin'), well set off by the complementary colours of the foliage and stems. No fragrance. Fruits not produced.
Soil Requirements
Average, well-drained to moist soils. Tolerant of neutral to acid soils.
Exposure
Partial shade to full sun, but needs a cool root area.
Pruning
May be pruned in winter to keep a desired height. Can put on more than 2 m of growth during the season.
Uses in the Landscape
Excellent as a hardy flowering vine on a trellis, fence, pergola, arbour or up trees or over large shrubs.
Hardiness
To date testing at the University of British Columbia and test sites within North America indicate a hardiness rating of at least USDA Zone 4 / Canadian Zone 4. Plants have survived for several winters in Morden, Manitoba (Zone 3), with little winter damage.
Propagation
Best results are obtained from stock-plants grown outside, using soft/semi-ripe 4 cm long single node cuttings in July-August. Later cuttings can result in over wintering problems. At UBC, cuttings are given a 1 cm slice wound and a 50% reduction in leaf-area. They are soaked for 1 min. in a weak disinfectant (Physan), dipped in Stimroot #3 powder, and direct stuck in 2 ¼" pots of 50/50 peat/perlite mix. Rooting takes 4-6 weeks under mist with 20°C bottom heat.
Sales Potential
Excellent in 1 to 2 gallon pots at garden centers when in flower. Trellised 5-gallon plants will fetch a premium price. An extremely rapid screening vine especially for summer privacy. A good hummingbird attractor.
Nursery Propagation
To propagate Lonicera 'Mandarin', nurseries must be a member of the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation. For details, please contact PlantCo.
