Lonicera henryi Copper Beauty

Honeysuckle

Lonicera Copper Beauty is a striking evergreen honeysuckle prized for its dramatic foliage, scented summer blooms, and reliable year-round presence. This versatile climber brings long-lasting interest to gardens of all styles with its bronze-tinged new leaves and golden-orange tubular flowers. Whether you want to soften a wall, cloak a pergola, or add structure to a fence, ‘Copper Beauty’ is an outstanding choice. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know to successfully cultivate and care for this elegant honeysuckle

Lonicera Copper Beauty is a vigorous, twining climber that stands out thanks to its unusual bronze-flushed new growth, which matures to a glossy, deep green. In early to mid-summer, it produces clusters of richly scented, orange-yellow tubular flowers that are highly attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies. As the season progresses, these are often followed by decorative purple-black berries, offering an additional layer of seasonal appeal.

Its evergreen foliage remains intact through winter, making it an excellent plant for maintaining garden structure and screening throughout the year. Unlike honeysuckles that lose their leaves or fade into the background in colder months, ‘Copper Beauty’ retains its dense coverage, bringing texture and interest even in the off-season.

Start by selecting a sheltered location with well-drained but moisture-retentive soil. This honeysuckle adapts well to various soil types, including loamy or clay-based soils, provided they’re enriched with organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure.

Choose a position in full sun or partial shade. While it can tolerate more shaded spots, full sun typically produces the best flower displays. Avoid planting in areas exposed to strong, drying winds, as this can cause leaf scorch, particularly during colder months.

Before you start, you can install a sturdy support structure such as a trellis, fence panel, or network of horizontal wires. As a twining climber, ‘Copper Beauty’ will need something to latch onto and grow up.

This honeysuckle is remarkably adaptable, but for optimal performance, aim for the following conditions:

• Soil: Moist but well-drained, with added organic matter to improve structure and fertility.
• Light: Full sun to partial shade. Dappled light works well, but a sun-drenched spot enhances flowering and leaf colour.
• Shelter: Protect from cold winds and harsh midday sun to prevent stress and leaf damage.

Once established, Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ is moderately drought-tolerant, though watering during prolonged dry spells will help maintain vigour and flowering.

Lonicera ‘Copper Beauty’ benefits from regular maintenance to stay healthy and looking its best. Prune lightly after flowering in late summer to maintain shape and encourage new growth. A good rule of thumb is to remove around one-third of the flowering shoots. This stimulates fresh shoots, improves airflow, and helps prevent fungal issues such as mildew.

In early spring, apply a generous mulch of well-rotted manure or bark chippings around the base of the plant. This helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and feed the plant as it enters its growing season.

Inspect your support structures annually and tighten or repair any trellis or wires as needed. This climber can grow vigorously and needs a secure base to prevent damage or collapse.

From season to season, Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ offers a continually evolving display. In spring, the fresh copper-bronze growth emerges, providing an early highlight. By summer, the vibrant tubular flowers appear, releasing a sweet fragrance that intensifies in the day’s warmth. These flowers contrast beautifully against the dark green foliage and attract many beneficial insects.

As the flowers fade, small purple-black berries develop, offering late-season interest and a modest food source for birds. Even in winter, the dense evergreen leaves maintain their form, keeping fences and structures looking full and lively when most other plants have retreated.

Thanks to its elegant form and reliable evergreen coverage, ‘Copper Beauty’ works well in contemporary and traditional settings. It’s ideal for:

• Courtyard gardens where vertical planting is essential
• Urban plots needing privacy and evergreen coverage
• Cottage gardens, when combined with softer flowering companions
• Wildlife-friendly designs due to its nectar-rich flowers and bird-attracting berries

Given space and support, it can reach a mature height of 4–8 metres (13–26 feet), depending on conditions. If needed, regular pruning can keep it smaller and more compact.

‘Copper Beauty’ pairs beautifully with other climbers, particularly those with complementary flower colours and bloom times. Try combining it with late-flowering clematis for extended seasonal colour or with climbing roses for a classic cottage garden effect.

Its dark, glossy leaves create a stunning contrast against lighter or pastel-coloured flowers, and it serves as an attractive backdrop for plants like jasmine, wisteria, or passionflower.

Be mindful of spacing—this honeysuckle can be vigorous and overshadow slower-growing companions if left unchecked.

Although fully evergreen, Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ benefits from some winter care, especially in exposed locations. Young plants in particular should be sheltered from cold winds. A fleece windbreak or a more protected planting spot near a wall can help prevent damage in harsh winters.

Reduce watering during colder months to prevent root rot, but check soil moisture occasionally, especially in sheltered or rain-shadowed positions. Maintaining healthy roots over winter ensures a strong start come spring.

To get the best display from your honeysuckle, feed it in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. This gives the plant the nutrients to produce strong growth and abundant blooms.

Avoid overfeeding with high-nitrogen fertilisers, which may encourage lush foliage at the expense of flowers. Instead, opt for a general-purpose feed suited to flowering shrubs and climbers. After flowering, prune carefully to stimulate new buds for the following year’s display.

Lonicera ‘Copper Beauty’ has earned its place in my garden thanks to its incredible all-season presence. I grew it up a sunny fence that needed a bit of life, and it’s worked wonders — the glossy bronze-tinged leaves in spring are a welcome sight, and the richly scented flowers bring the bees in every summer. I appreciate its reliability; it keeps its foliage through winter, so even when most climbers retreat, this one provides structure and interest. It’s also one of those plants that needs very little fuss once established. A spring mulch, a light prune after flowering, and it just gets on with the job. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance climber that offers scent, colour, and year-round coverage, I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving ‘Copper Beauty’ a go.

• Plant in free-draining soil
• Provide a strong support structure
• Annual mulching benefits growth
• Regular pruning maintains shape
• Protection from harsh winds is needed
• Works well with clematis
• Year-round interest
• Fragrant summer flowers
• Bronze-flushed new growth
• Suitable for many garden styles

Lonicera Copper Beauty is a top choice if you want to add long-lasting elegance, scent, and structure to your outdoor space. With its evergreen charm, showy flowers, and adaptability across various conditions, this exceptional climber will reward you with year-round beauty and minimal fuss.

Explore our full collection of planting guides for expert advice on climbers and wall shrubs.

Want to learn about other climbers? Read about Lonicera japonica Halls Prolific here.

Q: What is Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ PBR?

A: Lonicera Copper Beauty, also known as the stunning honeysuckle, is an evergreen climber with beautiful yellow blooms. It’s perfect for trellises, walls, or as a hedge!

Q: How do I care for my Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’?

A: This shrub is low maintenance! Just ensure it has well-drained soil and mulch around the base of the plant, and it will thrive with minimal fuss. A little watering during dry spells is also a good idea.

Q: When is the best time to plant Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’?

A: The appropriate time for planting is typically in spring or autumn when the weather is mild. Just make sure the soil is free-draining to give it a good start!

Q: Where can I buy Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ for my garden?

A: You can buy Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ from online retailers or local garden centres.

Q: What kind of flowers does Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ produce?

A: This gorgeous honeysuckle produces stunning yellow flowers that are often fragrant. They can be flushed red in summer, adding extra colour to your garden!

Q: Can Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ be used as a hedge?

A: Yes, this semi-evergreen honeysuckle makes for a lovely hedge. Its growth habit and beautiful blooms can create a lush, green wall that looks great year-round!

Q: What are the suggested planting locations for Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’?

A: You can plant it along trellises, against walls, or anywhere you want a climber! Just ensure it’s in a spot with some sunlight and well-drained soil.

Q: How big does Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ get?

A: Typically, this climber can reach 3 metres or more in height! It’s a great choice if you’re looking to cover a taller wall or fence.

Q: Is Lonicera henryi ‘Copper Beauty’ safe for pets?

A: Generally, Lonicera henryi is not toxic to pets. However, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your furry friends and discourage them from munching on plants.