Lonicera periclymenum Graham Thomas - A Spectacular Scented Honeysuckle

Graham Thomas Honeysuckle

Lonicera Graham Thomas is a superb choice for gardeners seeking a honeysuckle that delivers exceptional scent, beautiful blooms, and vigorous growth. A quintessential cottage garden climber, this native honeysuckle variety was named in honour of the legendary plantsman and garden writer Graham Stuart Thomas (1909–2003). Its reliability, strong perfume, and graceful twining habit make it stand out for covering walls, fences, arches, and pergolas.

In this detailed growing guide, we’ll explore how to cultivate ‘Graham Thomas’ successfully, why it remains a favourite among UK gardeners, and how it contributes to pollinator-friendly planting schemes.

‘Graham Thomas’ is a deciduous, fast-growing honeysuckle celebrated for its long-lasting, highly scented flowers. From July through September, it produces clusters of elegant tubular blooms that open white and fade gently to a warm creamy yellow as they mature. The intense fragrance is especially noticeable in the evening, making it perfect for planting near seating areas or paths where you can enjoy its heady scent.

This honeysuckle is not only prized for its flowers but also for its architectural habit. The twining stems can reach up to 7 metres (23 feet) in ideal conditions, creating a lush vertical screen or floral cascade over structures. After flowering, small red berries appear, offering late-season interest and an important food source for garden birds.

Choose a planting site with moist, fertile, and well-drained soil to give your honeysuckle the best start. While it tolerates many soil types, it thrives in humus-rich ground that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged.

Position your plant in full sun or partial shade. A common planting technique is to shade the roots and expose the top growth to sunlight, mimicking natural conditions and encouraging optimal flowering. The base can be shaded with low-growing plants, bark, or manure mulch.

Before you begin planting, please ensure you have a strong support system. ‘Graham Thomas’ climbs by twining around structures, so a sturdy trellis, arch, obelisk, or fence wires will be essential to establish and grow securely.

• Plant in autumn or spring when the soil is workable and moisture is reliable.
• Add well-rotted manure or compost to enrich the planting hole.
• Water deeply after planting and mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

This honeysuckle is remarkably adaptable and suited to a wide variety of gardens. It tolerates light shade well, though flowering is more prolific in brighter conditions. In exposed gardens, shelter from cold winds will help protect early growth and preserve flower buds.

During the first season, water regularly to help the plant establish a deep root system. Once mature, it becomes relatively drought-tolerant, though flowering may be reduced in prolonged dry spells without supplemental watering.

Feeding is not always necessary, but a balanced fertiliser in spring can boost growth and flower production. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, as these may encourage excessive leafy growth at the expense of blooms.

To keep Lonicera Graham Thomas in peak condition, prune annually after flowering, typically in late summer or early autumn. Remove about one-third of the flowering stems, cutting back to strong buds to encourage new shoots and maintain a manageable shape.

This vigorous climber can become woody and congested without pruning. Regular maintenance encourages better flowering, airflow, and resistance to diseases such as powdery mildew.

Inspect for winter dieback or frost damage in early spring and remove affected stems. A fresh layer of mulch around the base will retain moisture and improve soil fertility as the plant enters its growth phase.

The main flowering season extends from mid to late summer, though in milder regions, blooms may start earlier. The creamy yellow flowers begin as bright white buds, creating a lovely gradient effect across the plant as they mature.

After the flowering phase, clusters of red berries appear in autumn. These provide seasonal colour and serve as a valuable wildlife food source, particularly for thrushes and blackbirds. Even once the leaves fall, the bare stems offer structural interest and potential roosting spots for garden birds.

‘Graham Thomas’ pairs beautifully with other climbing plants, especially those that offer contrasting or complementary flower colours. Good companions include:

• Clematis with overlapping bloom times
• Climbing roses for a romantic, traditional look
• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) for evergreen coverage and evening scent
• Wisteria or passion flower for larger, more dramatic combinations

Its mid-green foliage forms a calm, textured backdrop to bold-flowering companions, and it blends effortlessly into both cottage garden schemes and more structured designs.

One of the key benefits of growing Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ is its wildlife value. The rich fragrance and tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and moths, particularly in the evenings when scent is most potent. It plays an important role in supporting nocturnal pollinators like hawk moths.

The berries feed birds in autumn, and the dense stems provide shelter and nesting opportunities, making this plant a cornerstone of any wildlife-friendly garden.

As a deciduous climber, ‘Graham Thomas’ loses its leaves in late autumn. While bare, the twining stems remain decorative and structurally important through winter. This also makes pruning and support maintenance easier during the dormant season.

Winter care is minimal, though applying a protective mulch around the base in particularly harsh areas can help insulate the roots. Inspect support structures after storms or frost to ensure stability as the plant enters spring growth.

‘Graham Thomas’ is a fast-growing honeysuckle, capable of covering large areas within a few seasons. It’s ideal for:

• Covering unsightly fences or sheds
• Softening bare walls or pergolas
• Adding vertical interest to cottage-style gardens
• Creating scented privacy screens in urban settings

To keep it looking neat, plan to train and tie in new shoots during the growing season, guiding the plant evenly across its support.

There’s something truly magical about walking past a mature Lonicera ‘Graham Thomas’ on a summer evening. The scent stops you in your tracks—rich, nostalgic, and unmistakably classic. I’ve grown it up a wooden arch in my garden, where it frames the path beautifully and creates a fragrant tunnel the whole family enjoys. It’s one of those reliable plants I always recommend because it never fails to deliver—lush growth, months of blooms, and masses of pollinators. Just a yearly prune and a bit of mulch rewards you tenfold. If you’re after a climber that brings structure, wildlife, and incredible scent to the garden, this one absolutely earns its place.

• Plant in sun or partial shade
• Provide a strong support structure
• Highly fragrant flowers
• Prune after flowering
• Attracts wildlife
• Perfect for pergolas and walls
• Combines well with roses
• Loses leaves in winter
• Red berries in autumn
• Reaches 7m height

For good reason, Lonicera Graham Thomas remains a trusted favourite among UK gardeners. Its heady scent, long flowering season, and vigorous habit make it an invaluable addition to any garden that values beauty and biodiversity. This timeless honeysuckle will reward you with colour, scent, and wildlife activity for many years with just a little care and annual pruning.

Check out the RHS article here.

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

Want to learn about other climbers? Read about Lonicera Rhubarb and Custard here.

Q: What is Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’?

A: It’s a highly fragrant climbing plant, specifically a variety of honeysuckle, renowned for its stunning scented white flowers that fade to yellow. It’s perfect for adding beauty to your cottage garden, or can serve as a shrub against a wall or fence!

Q: How do I prune my Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’?

A: To keep your honeysuckle ‘Graham Thomas’ healthy and thriving, you should cut back established plants after flowering. This encourages new growth and helps maintain that fabulous fragrance you love!

Q: Where can I buy Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’?

A: You can buy jasmine from online retailers or local garden centres. Look for mature options in a 3-litre pot for a good start.

Q: Is Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ evergreen?

A: No, this climber is actually deciduous, which means it will lose its leaves in winter. But don’t worry; it comes back stronger in spring with its vibrant green leaves and gorgeous flowers!

Q: What type of garden is best for planting Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’?

A: It fits perfectly in a cottage garden, but it can also work well in any garden that has a sunny spot. Plus, it scrambles nicely up walls or fences, creating a lovely arch of flowers.

Q: How large does Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ grow?

A: This climbing honeysuckle can reach heights of up to 5 metres! So if you’re looking for something to cover a tall wall or fence, this might be the shrub.

Q: Does Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ attract wildlife?

A: Definitely! Its fabulously fragrant flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies, making it a perfect addition to any garden looking to attract pollinators.

Q: How do I care for my Honeysuckle ‘Graham Thomas’?

A: Aside from regular pruning, ensure your honeysuckle receives plenty of sunlight and water. It also prefers well-draining soil, so consider adding mycorrhizal fungi to help with nutrient absorption!

Q: What happens to the flowers of Lonicera periclymenum ‘Graham Thomas’ as they age?

A: The flowers start as a lovely pale white and gradually age to a beautiful yellow. This colour change adds more interest to your garden throughout the blooming season!