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Lonicera x heckrottii

Phonetic Spelling
loh-NIS-er-ah hek-ROT-ee-eye
Description

Goldflame Honeysuckle is a spreading, twining, deciduous shrub with branches climbing up to 13 feet but can be pruned to a 6-foot shrub if desired.  The hybrid formula of this artificial cross is L. caprifolium × L. etrusca × L. sempervirens.

It blooms spring to early summer and is somewhat fragrant, with attractive leaves, but rarely produces fruits. It does best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils and full sun, but is adaptable to various soils and can tolerate some drought once established. Lonicera × heckrotti is intolerant of alkaline soils but needs to be planted where there is good air circulation to help prevent downy mildew. It grows well on arbors, fences, and around light and mailbox poles but Its growth habit is typically not dense enough to form a complete screen. The flower display is poorer in shaded areas.

This plant has no serious pest or disease problems but can be susceptible to powdery mildew and may be troubled by aphids.

It is listed as invasive in Illinois but has not been reported as invasive elsewhere.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Gold Flame'
    Deep reddish-purple flowers
  • 'Pink Lemonade'
    Pink with cream and yellow accents.
'Gold Flame', 'Pink Lemonade'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#shrub#semi-evergreen#pink flowers#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#climbing#tubular flowers#cottage garden#accent plant#moist soil#well-drained soil#bicolor#spreading#climbing vines#deer resistant#red fruits#long bloom time#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#humidity tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#vine#butterfly friendly#arbor#partial shade tolerant#black walnut toxicity tolerant#patio#fence
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Gold Flame'
    Deep reddish-purple flowers
  • 'Pink Lemonade'
    Pink with cream and yellow accents.
'Gold Flame', 'Pink Lemonade'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#shrub#semi-evergreen#pink flowers#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#climbing#tubular flowers#cottage garden#accent plant#moist soil#well-drained soil#bicolor#spreading#climbing vines#deer resistant#red fruits#long bloom time#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#humidity tolerant#clay soils tolerant#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#vine#butterfly friendly#arbor#partial shade tolerant#black walnut toxicity tolerant#patio#fence
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lonicera
    Family:
    Caprifoliaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Leaf Cutting
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Berries are edible by birds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Wildlife Food Source
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are red berries that grow up to 1/4-inch in size.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    The 1.5-inch, weakly fragrant, tubular flowers are pinkish-purple on the outside and open to show a yellow corolla and bloom in terminal whorls from spring to fall. They are carmine in bud and become pink as the flowers open. Flowers are 5-lobed, small, obtuse, and yellow. The inflorescence is terminal spikes to subpanicles and abundantly flowered. Flowers are borne in whorls and bracts are large, leaf-like, and fused to form a disk at the base of the peduncle.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Insignificant
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Connate leaves (encircling stem) under terminal flower clusters are opposite, simple, oblong or elliptic, bluntly acute, glabrous, lustrous dark blue-green above and glaucous below. Juvenile leaves are purplish with a reddish tinge and fused at the base. Leaves are 1- 2.5 inches long by .75-1.75 inches wide and grow on reddish stems.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Red/Burgundy
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Reddish stems are glabrous and thin.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Rock Wall
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Moths
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Drought
    Humidity
    Salt