[klaaar]

Can anyone educate me? What is the difference between lonicera japonica halliana and lonicera japonica purpurea?

Also, considering those two and lonicera x heckrotti, will bees be more attracted to one variety? Which might tolerate shade better?

[TrickyDick]

Some plant geeks may be more help but my take is that Lonicera japonica is a rampant, invasive weed that shouldn't be planted. Lonicera x heckrottii is not so bad.

[klaaar]

I've already planted heckrottii in certain shady areas around my house, to climb over 700 square feet of a vertical plane.

TrickyDick's seems to be a common take; however, I want to plant purpleleaf honeysuckle for its fragrance on a 35' long bank which curves around a patio area. The bank has maximum slope, and tapers from 5' high to 0'. It will be surrounded by: a patio of undecided composition, a gravel road, turf, and a foundation (my home's). I figure containing the honeysuckle should not be a problem.

I bought my home in fall '04. There is an insidious thorny plant infesting most of the wooded acreage (multiflora rose?) which I figure will take me three years to get 'in check' by way of herbicide. I rather enjoy the battle, but I don't necessarily want another rogue weed to deal with.