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
• Flowering period: April to August
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  A semi-evergreen, vigorous climber with purple-flushed, ovate dark green leaves. From early spring to late summer, emerging from deep purple-red buds, ‘Purpurea’ is adorned with terminal clusters of highly fragrant, rich purple-pink flowers and a creamy-white throat, followed by glossy, black fruit.
  
  
• 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.