honeysuckle ground cover on slope

by Rich Kline
(Medford, OR, USA)

I have grown honeysuckle on trellises in this climate successfully. I now live on a very steep slope, and have heard that honeysuckle can be used as a ground cover. I'd like to plant a row of honeysuckles behind a retaining wall and have it grow up to cover a fairly steep (60°) 25 ft. bank. If it grows up the bank, it will grow toward the south. My fear is that it will grow downhill and hang over the retaining wall instead. Will it grow up, toward the sun, or down, following gravity? Is there a preferred variety for this type of planting?

Doug says it will "tend" upwards at a steep 60-degree slope but because it's on the ground, it will grow outwards as well. So it will also head downhill (but slower I would suspect). This is my best guess on this slope - take it as general "advice" but don't bet the farm on it.

I don't think any variety is going to be better or worse than any other in this situation.