‘Major Wheeler’ Red Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens ‘Major Wheeler’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Vine

Height or Length at Maturity: 10’+

Width at Maturity: 2-3′
Spacing: 3-5′ apart to cover fences or other structures

Growth Habit / Form: Climbing, Dense, Spreading/Trailing, Twining, Twisted Branching, Upright

Growth Rate: Fast to Very Fast

Flower Color: Bright Red
Flower Type: Single, trumpet-shaped

Flower Size: 1.5-2″ long
Flowering Period: Late Winter or Early Spring to Mid or Late Winter

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Deep Blue-Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes, Red

Sun Needs: Full to Mostly Sun or Part Shade

Water Needs: Average. Drought tolerant when established

Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Well Drained

Soil pH: 5.5 – 8.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer – more info, Disease, Drought, Insect, Mildew

Description

Blooms 10 months straight – your hummingbirds will never go hungry!

Hands down the BEST red flowering honeysuckle vine we’ve ever grown in our gardens, and the hummingbirds that flock to it will agree, ‘Major Wheeler’ Trumpet Honeysuckle is a “MAJOR” improvement of the species. Why? Because, unlike other red honeysuckles, the deep blue-green leaves of Major Wheeler are absolutely mildew-free and the vine blooms year round in our Georgia gardens. Even during the rainiest and most humid summers you’ll see no mildew on the leaves and there’s never a month during the year the vine doesn’t have flowers on it!

But the great attributes don’t stop there…

In late winter or very early spring, profuse dangling clusters of radiant-red trumpet-shaped flowers appear and continue in cycles all the way through fall and into winter in most zones where it will grow – USDA Zones 4a-9b. The flowers were perfectly designed by mother nature for hummingbirds to feed on, and they find them irresistible. Here in our north-central Georgia gardens, our Major Wheeler Honeysuckle seems to always be in bloom…at least 10 months out of the year but usually throughout the entire year.

We have Major Wheeler growing over an entryway arch in our gardens that leads to a patio sitting area. In just two years the vine has densely covered the 8-foot high by 5 foot wide wooden arch. We love to relax on the patio and watch the hummingbirds feed all day long.

The vine does not cling to walls and other surfaces, however, will grow up and on just about anything that provides its vines something to twine around.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 10 feet or more tall or long and 2 to 3 feet wide, Major Wheeler is an absolute must and the BEST honeysuckle for hummingbird gardens! It is ideal for use to climb along the top of fences, on a trellis, on a pole, post or mailbox, over an arch, arbor or pergola, or any other structure that will provide something for the vines to twine around.

Suggested Spacing: 3 to 6 feet apart to cover fences or other structures

Growing Preferences

Major Wheeler Honeysuckle is easily grown in average, moist but well-drained soils and full sun to light shade. The vine produces more flowers and is more vigorous in full sun, where it completely covered an 8 foot tall wooden arch in our gardens in just two years. We recommend at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is quite drought tolerant when established and hardy in USDA Zones 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts for how to plant, prune, fertilize and water Honeysuckle vines.

How To Plant And Care For A Honeysuckle Vine

How To Train Vines To Grow On A Fence, Trellis, Pergola, Post, Wall Or Other Structure

Hummingbird Garden Design Tips

Plant Long & Prosper!

Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff

Questions? Contact Us!

My Major Wheeler’s Red Honeysuckle is a strong, healthy plant with a vigorous root system, just the right amount of roots, not pot bound.. The leaves are a deep green. It arrived quickly in a protective box, not a branch broken and the soil moist. Wilson Brothers really delivers!————————————————We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

Wilson Bros has done it again ! My order was exactly as described, good sized, very healthy, sturdy packaging and ready to be planted. I am very pleased as I suspect hummingbirds will be as well. I will definitely buy from them again. Great all around experience.———————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I purchased 2 of these plants and they were shipped with care in a timely manner. I followed the planting instructions and they are thriving after 2 weeks. They are climbing the trellis I built and are about to bloom.——————————————-Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

I ordered two Major Wheeler honeysuckle vines. I have had one for 15+ years and it is a beauty. I wanted two more and could not find them at local nurseries. Wilson Bros has made me rethink using nurseries again. The plants came packaged very timely, securely and actually, beautifully. They were very healthy looking and have already taken off.. I have cut holes in the bottom of these pots so rain water will not wash them away. I would highly recommend Wilson Bros.—————————————————Thanks for the photos. We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

It came a bit early for Ohio, but it’s thriving on my kitchen table on cold days. I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ll be able to plant it permanently next week. It was packaged nicely, and arrived in great shape. I’m happy with Wilson Brothers and will order again.————————————————————Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come!:) Beth Steele | WBG

Major Wheeler Trumpet Honeysuckle is perfect for those who love hummingbirds, red color, and low maintenance. It blooms in early spring, which is when hummingbirds need nectar, and continues until the first fall frost. We had an unexpected ice storm in December, with temperatures at -17, and it didn’t miss a beat the following spring. I put it in the ground, trim it once or twice a year, and it does the rest. I have it trailing up a fence, where it has spread magnificently, and on a trellis, which it shares with an heirloom rose. I have bought five Major Wheelers from Wilson Bros, and each one has created a stunning show in my backyard, and my feathered friends thank me for it.————————————————————-Thanks for the kind words and awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG

This plant arrived in really good shape I expect it to do well.—————————————————–Thanks for the awesome review! We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy it for years to come! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG