Lonicera, Honeysuckle, Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Woodbine 'Graham Thomas'

After concerns during 2017 summer as to finding a ‘true’ Graham Thomas honeysuckle vine, especially after reading one reviewer mentio...Read Morening some nurseries might switch out a different honeysuckle vine claiming it to be a Graham Thomas, I decided to purchase 2 Graham Thomas 2-Year old plants from Joy Creek Nursery in Oregon and planted them this past October here in Myrtle Beach, SC. The larger of the two plants bloomed and it had yellow/white flowers without any purple coloration.
One plant is planted in light shade without direct sunlight and the other plant, which is smaller, gets about 1 hour of sunlight daily. The smaller sized one has a couple leaves that may be bearing a bit of powdery mildew which I removed. As weather improves I will probably treat both for powdery mildew just to insure some protection because they aren’t in direct sunlight.
Both plants are green and are ‘holding their own’ with our extended colder weather this winter. I’m satisfied with both plants and, while growth may be slower without being in full sun, enough height of both plants will lead to direct sunlight.
Will plan on doing update as S.C. spring/summer 2018 approaches and have ordered another Graham Thomas honeysuckle vine for planting this Spring.

UPDATE: April 2018 on ‘Graham Thomas’ honeysuckle vines
Of the two GT honeysuckle plants I planted Fall 2017, both are still alive and well. The smaller of the two plants has a few leaf buds on it, not much vertical growth, but it is early yet and, with trimming a nearby palm tree, more dabbled sunlight is getting to it for a couple hours. Will see over the spring/summer as to its progress.
The other larger sized GT that is in constant light shade, but no direct sunlight, faces north and is growing like crazy vertically. It just seemed to ‘take off’ growing, starting last week with the warmer weather. No signs of powdery mildew but I did have to put wire fencing around both plants this past winter because I suspect a rabbit had chewed off a couple of small stems on the larger of the two plants.

In the Eastern US, where Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is prohibitively invasive, L. periclymenum is a good fragrant twining h...Read Moreoneysuckle, vigorous but not invasive. The fragrance is sweet and not heavy, strongest in the evening.

This species isn't aggressive in the garden, nor does it invade natural areas here (Boston Z6a). According to BONAP, it has naturalized only in three states (Maine, coastal Washington and coastal Oregon) and three provinces (Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia).

'Graham Thomas' differs from the species only in the clear yellow flowers lacking a purplish tint. The Royal Horticultural Society has given this cultivar its coveted Award of Garden Merit. In the 2012 RHS honeysuckle trials, this cultivar was the most floriferous and had the longest bloom season. [HYPERLINK@www.rhs.org.uk]

Flowers occur in clusters at the ends of stems. To prolong bloom, I try to deadhead each cluster as it fades, before the fruit develops. When I do this, it goes through several flushes of bloom over the season. Otherwise, fruiting will bring blooming to a halt. The fruit is scarlet and highly ornamental, and I stop deadheading in September to allow a final crop to develop.

Bloom is best in full sun, but flowering can be good in light/dappled shade as well. In full sun the foliage is also less prone to powdery mildew.

Because it twines around its support, this plant shouldn't be allowed to climb into shrubs and trees, as it can strangle whatever its stem wraps itself around. It's better to plant it where it can climb on a fence or trellis or invisible netting.

Flowering occurs on new wood. Best pruned in early spring to remove dead wood as necessary.

Dirr says this is hardy Z4-8.

Honeysuckle 'Graham Thomas' - RHS Award of Garden Merit

Not to be confused with L. 'Belgica', 'Serotina' (or other cultivars) . According to Michael Dirr (and others) "Graham Thomas is soft ye...Read Morellow without traces of purple."