Lonicera

Honeysuckle is a genus of 159 species widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. They are perennial, evergreen or deciduous shrubs and climbers. The genus name honors 16th-century German herbalist and botanist Adam Lonicer. 

Depending on the species, they can grow in sun or part shade, and most are adaptable and tolerant of most soil types. Most species prefer moist conditions but may be drought-tolerant once established.

Honeysuckles produce attractive, sometimes fragrant, flowers, usually subtended by two conjoined leaves. The flowers are followed by red or black berries, which may be attractive to fruit-eating birds. Some species (Lonicera japonica, Lonicera maackii) are dreadful weeds in North America and should not be intentionally cultivated, while other species are well-behaved, garden-worthy ornamentals. The flowers of our native Lonicera sempervirens are a favorite of hummingbirds. One species (L. caerulea, but known by various names in the trade) produces edible fruits.

The climbers can be used on pergolas and trellises to add a vertical dimension to the perennial flower bed. The shrubby species, many of which can be pruned to shape, can be used in the border, as foundation plantings or as a specimen or accent. They are the perfect cottage garden plant, but they also fit well in a pollinator garden, children’s garden, winter garden or shade garden.

Quick ID Hints:

• Perennial climber or shrub
• Tubular flowers borne above two opposite conjoined leaves
• Corolla funnel-shaped, but with recurved lobes
• Red (or less commonly, black or blue) berries

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Some species are troubled by powdery mildew and leaf spots in hot and humid summer climates. Insect pests are aphids, scale, beetles and thrips.