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Fragrant Grove Honeysuckle Lonicera acuminata

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Lonicera alseuosmoides
  • Lonicera giraldii
  • Lonicera henryi
Phonetic Spelling
loh-NIS-er-a ah-kew-min-AY-tuh
Description

Vine honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen, flowering, climbing vine that is native to China and the Himalayas. This species of honeysuckle is partly or wholly deciduous in colder regions and evergreen to semi-evergreen in zones 7 and above. The flowers are fragrant and an attractive yellow on the outside and purple inside. These climbing plants can reach a length of 9 to 12 feet and will need trellis or wire supports if grown on walls or fences.

Vine honeysuckle grows best in organically rich, neutral or alkaline, medium to moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The plants will flower more profusely in full sun in cooler regions, but regular moisture is needed or the foliage may burn. In hot summer climates, these plants prefer a part-shade location where they will have some drought tolerance.

This plant can become invasive and should be pruned as needed immediately after flowering. Flowers will appear on new growth.

Vine honeysuckle is a vigorous climber and can be used as a ground cover.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

Vine honeysuckle may be susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spots in hot and humid summer climates. Insect pests are aphids and thrips.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#shrub#semi-evergreen#yellow flowers#tubular flowers#woody#spring flowers#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#showy fruits#moist soil#well-drained soil#rich soils#twining#climbing vines#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#alkaline soils tolerant#screening#pollinator plant#twining vine#Asian garden#sensory garden#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#garden walls#bird friendly#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#purple#hummingbird friendly#evergreen#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#shrub#semi-evergreen#yellow flowers#tubular flowers#woody#spring flowers#winter interest#fall interest#rabbit resistant#showy fruits#moist soil#well-drained soil#rich soils#twining#climbing vines#summer flowers#deer resistant#groundcover#alkaline soils tolerant#screening#pollinator plant#twining vine#Asian garden#sensory garden#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#garden walls#bird friendly#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lonicera
    Species:
    acuminata
    Family:
    Caprifoliaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Stems are used in constructing fences.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western China, tropical Asia and Tibet
    Distribution:
    Introduced to England and Northern France.
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds are attracted to the berries, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the nectar.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Screening
    Wildlife Food Source
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    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
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Round berries, 1/6 to 1/4 inch in diameter, are blue-black and covered with purplish bloom, ovoid, seeds ellipsoid to oblong, slightly compressed.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Half inch funnel-shaped flowers are fragrant and yellow on the outside with purple on the inside petals. Flowers are paired, axillary at apices of branchlets. The corollas are bilabiate, white tinged red, becoming yellow-tinged orange or purple.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The shiny green leave, 2.5 x .75 inches, have margins that are curved downwards. Leaves are occasionally 3-whorled; leaf blade is ovate or oblong to linear-lanceolate. Leaves are short-stalked and more or less hirsute, leathery leaves with often somewhat ciliate edges. To reduce the evaporation rate, the leaves can also get rolled in slightly.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Scaly
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Mature branches become hollow.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Rock Wall
    Vertical Spaces
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Butterfly Garden
    Garden for the Blind
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Rabbits