The honeysuckle is the dropmore scarlet variety.

Please let me know if this DOES NOT make sense. I look to this forum for much of my gardening advice.

Thanks!

Kimcoco, I do have roses and clematis growing together on another arch. In fact, two of each...a creamy rose with a purple clematis, and a deep pink rose with a pale pink clematis. Don't know whether a trellis would be big enough to combine vines...depends on the size of the trellis, I guess. And the habit of the honeysuckle...hence my question.

The good news is that Lonicera brownii Dropmore Scarlet is among the most disease resistant honeysuckles. Major Wheeler is being touted as mildew resistant. Lonicera sempervirens generally is not; but I have not personally grown that new variety. They should both stay small enough not to smother the other vine on the trellis. In any case, if you are infected with vine lust as I am, you'll try anything at least twice. So, best of luck.

Now, trailing off the subject here...I'm ASSUMING that I don't prune back rose bushes in the fall/spring????

In any case, I thought the rose bush and clematis would be a better combination with the thought that the honeysuckle and rose bush would be overcrowded.

The only downside to this is that my rose bush flowers red, and so does the clematis. Yeah, I know that's not going to be a contrast but I didn't know where else to put the darn thing!!!

Kimcoco, you will want to prune the roses in the spring to remove winter damage. Your weather is probably a lot like ours and we always have some winter kill. Once the plant starts showing leaf buds, you want to prune it back to just above a set of good fat healthy buds. Also, you'll want to prune it such that renegade branches going in the wrong direction are removed, and such that you have good air circulation. To be honest, I don't give my roses enough care, but even with the minimal amount they get from me, they still perform. You are supposed to prune clematis back too, but that gets more complicated. There are three types, and all have different requirements...timing, where to prune, how much to prune, etc. I'd suggest getting a book on pruning. A very wise garden investment.

My grape vine, I believe this is the fourth year, FINALLY bears fruit. Yeaaaayyyy! They're concord grapes.

This is my second year with my honeysuckle, no foliar problems at all and it looks beautiful. I actually planted a clematis with it, and they're both doing well so far, though I read that honeysuckles don't like to share root space.

The rest of my clematis, and this is only my second year, are also doing well. I don't get to enjoy blooms until later in the season - clematis forum says to keep pruning back the first two to three years until the end of July? (I can't remember exactly) to promote root development. They are definitely fuller this year, and the blooms last year were beautiful. I have 20+ clematis (I lost count) on less than 1/8 acre lot! LOL. Most of them are planted along my fence lining my driveway, so when they are full grown it will look stunning.

I also planted a climbing hydrangea alongside my house last year, it is doing well. The only problem is it will sit there for the next 4-5 years before it will take off, but I was told once it does, it's a stunner. And it doesn't damage mortar.