red Honeysuckle Major Wheeler

12 years ago

These are 4 years old, now about 20' high and will probably be on the pergola next year. It forms a tall thicket with blooms from Spring til frost. Only part of the upper three feet or so is visible from the house, but I see hummers there now and then.

Walking outside this evening I saw a juvenile perched on a small dangling branch of it, just sitting there looking around. I was within 4 feet of him, but below him, and kept very still. He sat there a long time, several minutes at least until chased off. A few minutes later saw a hummer feeding in the same vine. The vine is so thick the hummer nearly disappears once inside.

It's clear a lot of acitivity, resting, feeding, chasing goes on in these vines all the time out of sight of the house.

I'm so pleased I can provide these for them.

If you have the space for a big tall vine, give this one your consideration. It actually gave a few blooms the very first year, and was already a robust vine the second year. It puts on a tremendous show, just an eye-popping wall of red in May, then blooms all summer.

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Comments (6)

shillanorth Z4 AB
12 years ago
I`ve seen pictures of Major Wheeler and it is a real beauty. In our area - Dropmore Scarlet is the go to honeysuckle - the hummingbirds are at it constantly, blooms all season and survives the winter!!!
missingtheobvious
12 years ago
I felt so lucky to find a nice 'Major Wheeler' this spring!
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dbarron
12 years ago
Yes, lonicera sempervirens is really a hbird pleaser :)
mehitabel
Original Author
12 years ago
Shilla, thanks so much for the picture. Your Dropmore Scarlet looks just like Major W. Is it more hardy?

Dbarron and Missing-- glad you have them, too. I figure that thicket of red blooms is waving a sign to them: "Breakfast served all day here" L)
shillanorth Z4 AB
12 years ago
Dropmore Scarlet is good down to our zone 3 - it and Mandarin are the only ones you find around here for sale as all of the other lovelies just won`t make it through the winter.
mehitabel
Original Author
12 years ago
Well, breakfast is definitely served by Major Wheeler all day all summer. This morning overcast, so walking outside saw a hummer feeding away at the Major Wheeler. I stood still about two feet away and he covered all the blossoms, got chased, came back, went over them all again, got chased again, etc etc.

I love it when that other world breaks into mine for a few minutes. Also love the confirmation that they really do love MW.