This climber is semi-evergreen, so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new foliage appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun or partial shade
• Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
• Rate of growth: fast-growing
• Flowering period: April to August
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  Let’s deal with the botany first; the term ‘perfoliate’ refers to the base of a leaf that completely encloses the stem so the latter appears to pass through it. The perfoliate honeysuckle is a vigorous deciduous climber with egg-shaped, green leaves and produces sweetly scented, creamy-white flowers from April to August.
  
  
• Garden care: Newly planted honeysuckles should be cut back by up to two thirds in their first year in early spring. The resulting new growth can then be tied onto a frame, and nipped back when it reaches the desired height. In subsequent years (again in early spring), thin out congested stems, and prune lanky stems back to healthy buds. Every few years, you may want to renovate your plant, and you can do this by cutting it back to around 60cm above the ground. The subsequent mass of growth will need to be thinned and tied on as before. After pruning, apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted compost or manure around the base of the plant.