Vine 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
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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:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Mature branches become hollow.
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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
