What is the difference between honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and mountain silver flower (Lonicera confusa)?

Many people cannot tell mountain silver flower and honeysuckle apart, because they look quite similar and grow in similar places. But mountain silver flower and honeysuckle are not the same plant. Let us take a look below at where the difference between honeysuckle and mountain silver flower lies?

1. Where is the difference between honeysuckle and mountain silver flower?

1. There is a difference in appearance between the two

The flower buds of honeysuckle are rod-shaped, thick at the top and thin at the bottom, slightly curved, yellow-white or green-white on the surface, with dense short fine hairs on the surface; dried flowers feel soft and springy;

The flower buds of mountain silver flower are slightly similar in size to those of honeysuckle, the surface of the style is pale yellow, slightly tinged with purple, hairless or sparsely haired, and dried flowers feel rather hard. The leaf surface of honeysuckle has fine hairs, while the leaves of mountain silver flower have no fine hairs and are darker in color.

2. There is a difference in planting density

Honeysuckle is generally planted at about 400 plants per mu, though some seedling sellers, in order to sell more seedlings, have growers plant 2 or 3 plants per hole, requiring about 800 to 1200 plants per mu;

Mountain silver flower is generally planted at only 180 to 220 plants per mu. In terms of price, honeysuckle seedlings cost about two yuan each, while mountain silver flower reaches as high as 8 yuan. For a long time, the purchase price of mountain silver flower has been far less than half that of honeysuckle.

3. There is a difference in yield

Honeysuckle blooms from May through mid-October, but its yield is low and the harvest period is short, with a yield of about 100 kg of dried flowers per mu;

while mountain silver flower blooms only once a year, but its yield can exceed 300 kg of dried flowers per mu. “When introducing seedlings, you can also ask the other party about planting methods, seedlings and purchase prices, and identify them from these two aspects.”

4. Different places of origin

Honeysuckle is mainly produced in Linyi, Shandong, Fengqiu, Henan, Julu, Hebei and elsewhere. The “mountain silver flower” separated out from the pharmacopoeia, that is, the former southern “honeysuckle”, is grown in Hunan, Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou and other places, among which what is mainly grown in Longhui, Hunan is “Lonicera macranthoides”, making it an important southern place of origin.

2. Honeysuckle planting methods and key points

There are two ways to grow honeysuckle: one is planting by cuttings, and the other is planting by seed. Either way, it is fairly convenient, but planting by cuttings grows faster, provided you have cuttings available. As for the variety, you can choose the tree form or the vine form.

Honeysuckle blooms in March and is highly adaptable; it likes sun and tolerates shade, is strongly cold-resistant, and also tolerates drought and waterlogging. Although it does not demand much from the soil, if the cutting method is used, it is recommended to first choose loose, deep and fertile soil, as this helps the roots grow faster. Before the roots have grown more fine rootlets and the growing period has not yet stabilized, be careful to keep it out of direct sunlight and keep the soil slightly moist. If it is too dry, it may dry out into dead branches; if it is too wet, it may be damaged by waterlogging, so this moisture must be well controlled. Personally, I suggest that planting in autumn has more advantages, because in autumn the sunlight becomes weaker, avoiding scorching sun; while spring has too much rain, so there is a risk of waterlogging; and the summer sun is too harsh.