For many of us the sight and scent of honeysuckle plants bring back wonderful memories of childhood summers. Honeysuckle plants spread a sweet smell and beautiful shades of yellow, red and white flowers wherever they are placed.

They can improve a garden in many pleasing ways. The honeysuckle is often used as a colorful climbing vine or fragrant shrub. There are also honeysuckle varieties that do well as winter-flowering shrubs. The shrub types of honeysuckles grow to a height of fifteen feet and almost as wide occasionally.

Some climbing types of honeysuckle plants can grow up to thirty feet tall. Generally speaking they are easy to start on fences, walls and trellises. They are a hardy plant and can handle a wide range of environments. Honeysuckle plants flower in full sun but also grow well in shade. Moist, well-drained soil will serve the honeysuckle just fine.

The stems of the plant will twine around anything in its path. The honeysuckle plant is known as a rambling wild flower with around 200 different species. The Japanese Honeysuckle flowers are included in homeopathic medicines that treat asthma, coughing food poisoning and other common aliments. Chinese honeysuckle plants are used in herbal cures for rheumatism and diarrhea.

Insects enjoy the sweet summertime flavor the plant has to offer. Children also suck on its honey sweetness like it was a piece of candy. Cat owners should be careful, because there are some honeysuckle plants that can be toxic to cats. The berries of the plant can also be toxic for birds.

The honeysuckle is perfect for attracting wildlife to your garden. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds rely on the plant as a food source. Once the honeysuckle plant is establish and flowering, you can relax in your favorite chair and watch the wildlife come into view.

If you would like to reproduce this plant, stem cutting is a popular method. A common enemy of the honeysuckle is the ant, and they tend to launch their attack during the spring and fall. The plant got its name from the pungent nectar in the center of the bloom.