A Note About Our Partnership: We partnered with Perfect Plants Nursery for this post, and they sent us two plants to try in our gardens. We also earn a commission when readers make purchases using our affiliate code. As always, the experiences and opinions we share are our own!
If there’s one thing you should know about me by now, it’s that I can always find room for one more plant!
Okay, maybe two.
Recently, we had the opportunity to partner with Perfect Plants Nursery, and they sent us two beautiful plants to try here on the homestead: a coral honeysuckle and a star jasmine.
Both arrived together in one long box, and I thought I’d share the experience with you. After all, ordering plants online can be a little nerve-racking. You never really know what you’re going to find when you open that box!
First Things First… Let’s Talk About the Packaging!
I’ve ordered enough plants over the years to know that shipping live plants can be tricky.
They’re not exactly easy to pack!
Between the leaves, stems, soil, and everything else, there’s a lot that can go wrong between the nursery and your front door.
So when our box arrived from Perfect Plants Nursery, the first thing I wanted to see was how they had packed everything.
I was pleasantly surprised!
Both plants were nestled inside the same long shipping box, with wooden supports helping hold everything in place. The pots were wrapped in plastic to help contain the soil, and the vines had room to lie inside the box without being crammed into a tiny space.
I especially appreciated the wooden supports. That’s such a simple solution to a problem that can become a real mess during shipping!
And when we got everything unpacked, we had two nice-sized plants with plenty of green growth.
I’d call that a successful delivery!
Now, About That Coral Honeysuckle…
I’ve been working on our South Garden for a while now. Like pretty much every other area of this property, it’s a
work in progress.
And if you’ve been following along with our gardening adventures, you already know that I love plants that serve more than one purpose.
Pretty flowers? Absolutely.
Something that brings the hummingbirds back? Even better!
That’s exactly why I wanted coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens).
We’ve had Lion’s Ear growing in this section of the garden, and the hummingbirds absolutely love it. But after cutting those plants back, I wanted something else that would give our little feathered visitors a reason to keep stopping by.
Coral honeysuckle seemed like a wonderful choice.
It’s a native vine with beautiful tubular flowers in shades of coral and red. And those flowers are practically made for hummingbirds!
Unlike Japanese honeysuckle, which can become terribly invasive, our native coral honeysuckle is generally a much better-behaved addition to the garden.
And since we’re gardening in North Central Florida, Zone 9a, it should be quite happy here.
Finding the Perfect Spot
I knew almost immediately where I wanted to plant it. 
Right against the house in the South Garden!
We have a lovely little black metal trellis that seemed like a perfect place to get it started.
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
That trellis isn’t nearly big enough for a mature honeysuckle vine!
And you’re absolutely right.
But that’s okay, because I have bigger plans.
Eventually, I’d love to train this honeysuckle up along the side of the house. I’m picturing long, graceful vines climbing upward and maybe even arching across part of the wall.
Can you imagine how beautiful those coral flowers would look against the house?
And just think about sitting outside and watching the hummingbirds dart around those blooms!
We’re considering using siding clips and additional supports to guide its growth. Of course, we’ll need to make sure everything is secure and that the vines aren’t damaging the siding.
That’s a project for another day.
For now, we’ve got the plant in the ground, the trellis in place, and plenty of time to decide exactly how we’ll train it.
Sometimes I think half the fun of gardening is imagining what everything will look like a year or two down the road.
And We Already Have Flowers!
Here’s the part that really made me smile. 
When I went outside to check on our newly planted honeysuckle, it already had a few little flowers!
I wasn’t expecting blooms quite so soon.
Now, we’re not talking about a vine covered in flowers just yet. It’s a young plant, and it still has plenty of growing to do.
But those first few blooms gave me a little preview of what’s to come.
For now, our biggest goal is simply getting the plant established before winter arrives.
Fortunately, October is a wonderful time to plant many perennials and woody vines here in Florida. The intense summer heat is beginning to ease, and the roots have time to settle in before next year’s growing season.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what this honeysuckle does next spring!
So, What Do We Think of Perfect Plants Nursery?
So far, I’m pleased!
The plants arrived well protected, the packaging was thoughtfully designed, and both plants had plenty of growth when we unpacked them.
Our coral honeysuckle is already planted and beginning its new life here on the homestead.
Of course, I don’t think you can truly review a plant based only on how it looks when it arrives.
The real test comes over the next several months as it gets established and begins growing.
And you can bet I’ll be sharing updates!
As for that star jasmine that arrived in the same box?
Well, that’s another garden adventure, and it deserves a post of its own!
A Little Something for Our Readers!
One of the fun things about partnering with companies like Perfect Plants Nursery is being able to share something special with you, too.
Perfect Plants has provided The Daily Homesteader readers with a 10% discount!
All you need to do is visit Perfect Plants Nursery and enter the code DAILY10 at checkout.
That’s it! You’ll receive 10% off your purchase.
And here’s another little bonus: When you shop using our code, we also earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a wonderful way to support The Daily Homesteader while adding something beautiful to your own garden!
They offer everything from flowering vines and ornamental trees to fruit trees and other garden favorites.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find at least one plant you didn’t know you needed!
One More Plant in the Ground!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy watching this property change as we add new plants and develop the different garden spaces.
There are days when I look around and see everything we still need to do.
And then there are days when I look at a little newly planted honeysuckle and imagine what that same spot will look like in a few years.
That’s one of the things I love most about gardening.
We’re always planting something for the future.
A big thank-you to Perfect Plants Nursery for sending these plants our way. We’re excited to watch them grow!
And don’t forget, if you’re planning a little garden shopping of your own, use DAILY10 for 10% off at Perfect Plants Nursery.
Happy gardening!
