Lonicera sempervirens f. sulphurea 'John Clayton'

A cascade of tubular, pale gold, pollinator-pleasing flowers brings vertical interest to any garden, and they arrive in abundance on compact Lonicera sempervirens f. sulphurea 'John Clayton.' Plants flower heavily in late spring and may rebloom intermittently in summer. The slightly fragrant flowers are framed by oval, dark green foliage with blue-green undersides that provides elegant contrast. For a final flourish, the vine is festooned with a profusion of berries in autumn. This graceful climber was discovered in a churchyard in Gloucester, VA, and christened for Colonial botanist and plant collector John Clayton who once lived there. It is a splendid choice for trellises, tuteurs, and small fences, anywhere you wish to invite hummingbird traffic and admire a shower of golden blooms.

Lonicera is a large group of (mostly) deciduous shrubs and vines from Europe, Asia, and North America. They are known for their brightly colored, sometimes fragrant flowers. The vines will grow readily in humus-rich, well-drained soil and are rarely troubled by insects, diseases, or deer.

For more information on the growing and care of Lonicera, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

Latin Name Pronunciation: lon-iss'er-uh    

There are many Honeysuckle species; some are shrubs and others are twining climbers. All are fast growing, vigorous, and adaptable, generally with sweetly fragrant flowers. Climbers can be grown on a fence or other support, or trained into small trees. Utilize the shrubs in borders, as hedges or as ground covers.

Light: Full sun or partial shade.

Soil: Average garden soil.

Watering: The key to getting your new shrub or tree off to a good start is moisture. Water thoroughly after planting, and keep a close eye on the plant over the following week. Then, give it a good soaking once a week during summer, unless rainfall is plentiful (more than 1in per week). Established plants can generally get by on less water, but most grow best if the soil remains evenly moist. Water Honeysuckles sparingly in winter.

Fertilizer: We recommend against fertilizing at planting time and during the first growing season in your garden. Plants need time to settle in before being pushed to grow. Most established plants grow best if fertilized with a light hand. Here at the Farm, we fertilize our specimen trees and shrubs just once -- in early spring -- with a light but even coverage of a balanced, granular fertilizer (such 5-10-10, 10-10-10, or an organic fertilizer). If a concentrated, water-soluble fertilizer is used, please follow the manufacturers' recommendations carefully.

Continuing Care: Easy to grow. Prevent mildew with good air circulation. Climbers that flower on the previous year's growth (such as L. periclymenum) should be pruned right after they flower. Trim hedges twice during summer. For established shrubs, cut 1/5 to 1/3 of the old canes to the base after flowering to promote new growth and keep shrub in bounds. Rarely troubled by insects or diseases.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].