This guy is putting out much more than I expected several clusters and the clusters that are open have been used by the hummers but even more satisfying than that is it doesn't seem to be bothered by critters and no mildew-- so far at least. I have been battling aphids on honeysuckle for what seems like forever that it even seems strange not to have any-- at least for now and each time I express that fact I have to grit my teeth in fear of jinxing myself. Each day I inspect and expect to find something but so far a clean bill of health. Golly ! happy happy happy in the words of Gomer.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

That's great to hear, Steve. How about a photo?

Dan
Zone 5
East-central Iowa

Dan

Actually I did take a couple of photos early today but didnt think they were very good so didnt post them but here they are.

Not bad for a first year plant.







Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Its great to hear its mildew free so far. I am currently infatuated with honeysuckles. So far, I only have 2 Dropmore Scarlet, 2 Coral, had 2 Goldflame and by the end of this weekend will have Magnifica and Major Wheeler.

BTW, thank you for the shortcut on the Canon. I guess I can't avoid reading the manual if I want to take great pictures. Lets see, there's 317 page...one page a day...guess you wont see my post again till April 2012, LOL.


Elle
Eastern Michigan
Zone 5

We have had our Major Wheeler for three years and have had no problems with it. We have never seen any aphids or powdery mildew. It is growing up a shepherd's crook in our front yard and is currently flowering profusely:



This morning at 7 a.m., an adult male ruby throat was working over the flowers. This honeysuckle is definitely a keeper.



Kathi and Michael Rock
Madison, Wisconsin
Zone 4/5

Kathi

Thanks for showing a photo of your major wheeler and it looks quite strong and its still early in the season. I have to agree with you that it must be a keeper. I also know that mine wont be mature for another year but it is growing pretty fast. The other thought is that Ive had to contend with aphids on every other honeysuckle that I have tried here so I suspect this one will eventually be plagued with it too but I hope not.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I read here on the forum how good Major Wheeler was when it came to aphids and when I saw one at a nursery it had aphids on it. Go figure. :C(

Central NJ
USDA Zone 6
:C)

Let the aphids come. In this garden it is the early flowers that count the most since the honeysuckle at that time, late April - early May, is nearly the only plant in bloom. With the addition of the greggii/microphylla salvias as May progresses feeding can switch over and no harm is done. It may not be perfect but it works.

Granted -- All the more reason to try and keep the aphids at a minimum. But so far looks like I slipped one in on them.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I don't have Major Wheeler but I cut my Coral bank quite a bit a couple of weeks ago and all the new growth is distorted by a new crop of aphids. It must be from the colder than normal temps and all the rain.

the Gold Flame so far has not been affected this year and no powdery mildew either.

Penny
NY
USDA hardiness zone 6
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Mine I bought last year & never got in ground yet still looks dead, Steve. Although the two stems are not brittle so I'm still not giving up yet, especially with all the rainy days we've been having.

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Joni--- Sorry to hear the one you bought last year looks dead hope it pulls thru.

I bought this one last year too kept it in a pot for a couple of months then decided to put where my previous coral honeysuckle had been and died. So I watered it daily for a couple of months then hoped for the best looks good now just needs a little more filling in.

The major has become a pretty popular honeysuckle , in looking online a lot of places are either sold out or not available. I can now see why. Looking for bigger and better results next season.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

I forgot to mention, also, how nice Kathi & Michael's looks. Beautiful!!!!! My 'Blanche Sandman' & 'John Clayton' are entangled & laying on the ground. Early this spring, I ended up ripping up a pretty big piece that had rooted in the ground & potted it up & it's about 4' tall now. I intended on digging them both up & moving them but the weather & my health have put the cobash on that for now. I'm not sure what one I have until it blooms. Will get a pix as soon as I have some sun. Tomorrow pm maybe?

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Kathi and Michael,

Thank you for sharing your photo. You have unintentionally reassured me my honeysuckle will be just fine on a 6ft. trellis, considering yours is happily growing on a SHEPHERD's HOOK, LOL. To think I went through the unnecessary work of adding additional homemade support to the existing one. If you want to see a photo of the hideous add on, its posted as "Potted Honeysuckle Advice Please" on page 2-3. Sorry, I would have posted the picture itself, but Im on a different computer, cant access the photo.

Here is one I planted last summer. The wall is 10 feet high and I suspected the trellis on hooks holding it a couple inches off the wall. It has reached the top and starting to cascade over. I chose not to prune it to see what it will do this summer. Weather has been exceptionally cool this spring, so it should start filling out if it ever warms up. No aphids yet and only morning sun in this spot. Odd leaf development... but I noticed the same on Steve's photo.



**********
Farmer Steve
Deluz, CA usda zone 10a (between LA and San Diego)

Farmer Steve,

Very nice, looks liked wall's art.
BTW, I enjoyed looking at your hummingbird's chandeliers feeder's photo. Postcard perfect.

Here's my yet unknown Lonicera until it blooms....the piece I pulled up from the ground & potted:



Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Update: advancement of the major and possibilities. not bad for its first year on a trellis, go major! I simply cannot say enough for major wheeler, to say Im elated is an understatement. Ive just finished four years of battling aphids possibly the first year may have been the only year I didnt have many problems. The aphids can destroy and deform a vine so quickly that it tends to demoralize a person when all you want is to grow beautifull plants and flowers. I could be speaking early but even so I have not gone this long without honeysuckle problems of some kind so I will enjoy what I can with this one.



hummer couldnt wait for me to get out of the way







Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Besides what I have recited about this vine with no aphids , no mildew today I had quite a few open blooms and watched a hummer go over and into each and every bloom, couldnt seem to decide if it wanted the feeder nectar or the vine nectar but was sure lapping it up.

So I decided to try and take advantage of the situation took some cuttings in water and also trying layering a stem which I havent suuceeded in before but what the heck. Some way or another I want more or these guys.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Steve, have you noticed if the blooms are redder than the regular coral honeysuckle? They look similar in the photo, but it could just be the camera.

Dan
Zone 5
East-central Iowa

Dan--- They appear about the same color to me. But they could be slightly redder Im not sure.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Dogwood on Ebay has quart pots of this now for $9.95. Just an FYI.

Joni
Elwood, IL
Zone 5

Joni

I have a layered one in a quart pot of my own.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35