Pale Yellow Honeysuckle Lonicera flava
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-NIS-er-ah FLAY-vah
- Description
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Yellow Honeysuckle is a native woody vine found in rocky soils in woods, slopes, bluffs, ledges, and stream margins. Genus name honors the German botanist Adam Lonitzer (1528-1586). It will climb a trellis with a little help or grow along the ground in a naturalized area and can also take on the form of a small shrub. It is easy to grow in sun to semi-shade in moist sandy loam or gritty loam. The plant is considered endangered in some states
The mid to late-spring flowers are brilliant yellow/orange with a slightly sweet fragrance and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This is a good vine for a bird garden as the berries attract birds and small mammals. Use this vine on a trellis or fence and for screening. Yellow Honeysuckle can be pruned to shape and blossoms will appear on old growth. They are not self-fruitful and two plants are necessary to cross-pollinate. Mulch in winter to protect the roots.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lonicera
- Species:
- flava
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , GA , IL , KS , KY , MO , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds eat the berries. Moth host to bumblebee clearwing.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- 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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/4 inch round orange-red berries. Displays from August to Sept.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are 1.25 inches long, occur in whorls at the ends of the stems and are distinctly 2-lipped with 5 unequal petals That are flared and reflexed back. Blooms late spring.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 3.5 inches long, green leaves are gray-green underneath. Leaves at the tips are joined around the stem
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Older stems may have shredding bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems green and turn woody with age
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
