Question
Do Honeybush Honeysuckle shrubs put out runners?  What are the cons, if any, in this shrub?

Also, I planted about 5 years ago - Bush Honeysuckle and it puts out a tremendous amount of runners - sometimes 4 ft out from the shrub itself - is there anything I can do to eliminate the runners other than pulling them out? Can I spray them or will it hurt the shrub?

Answer
Hello Lisa

As you seem to have discovered, honeysuckle does indeed put out runners - sometimes up to 10 feet from the main plant!

Besides regularly pulling up and/or cutting down (by mowing if the runners are coming up in the grass) this wayward growth, there isn't much you can do.  

I wouldn't recommend the use of weedkiller in this situation, even if the runners are not coming up through grass or other plants.  A systemic weedkiller is taken up by the plant's roots and will kill all of it  - quickly, while a contact weedkiller will definitely kill top growth, could kill top growth and roots, or if it doesn't kill the roots the runners will probably just come up again the next growing season!

If the suckers are not growing amongst other plants you could try digging out as much of the root system as you can, this will at least weaken the growth and may, eventually, discourage it entirely!

Other 'cons' - honeysuckle will twist and twine around its own stems and any other plant it comes into contact with.  If this happens to be a tree or shrub the honeysuckle growth will, left to its own devices, eventually kill its supporting plant by smothering it.  

With any climbing plant it is really important to establish a pruning routine early in its growth - thinning out some to the entwined stems each year and, in the case of suckering specimens - pulling or digging up the runners as soon as you see them.

Do you really want to grow honeysuckle? - well you have to balance the inconvenience of its less desirable habits with the delight of that wonderful scent on warm evenings!  Personally, I wouldn't be without it!

Gill