Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-NISS-er-ah sem-per-VY-renz
- Description
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Trumpet honeysuckle is a vigorous twining vine in the Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle) family that is native to the southeastern United States and evergreen in the warm winter climates of the deep South. The genus Lonicera is named for Adam Lonicerus, a German botanist from the 1500s. The species epithet is Latin for "ever green."
Trumpet honeysuckle grows in medium moisture, well-drained, neutral to acidic soils in full sun. It will grow in some shade, but best flowering is in full sun. It likes organically rich soils. It flowers on new growth, so avoid pruning until after flowering. High nitrogen fertilizer will produce foliage at the expense of flowers. Propagate by layering, stem cutting, or seed.
This is a twining vine that can reach 10 to 20 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It needs a support structure and thus is an excellent choice for a trellis, arbor, or fence. However, it can also be allowed to sprawl as a ground cover. Native honeysuckle is not invasive, flowers in mid-spring, and is often non-fragrant. It is a nice addition to a butterfly, native, or pollinator garden. Its salt tolerance makes it especially welcome in coastal gardens.
Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Plants with a low flammability rating should be chosen for areas closest to the house.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Watch for aphids. Powdery mildew and leaf spots may occur, particularly in hot and humid summer climates.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Vegetable, Herb and Mostly Native Pollinator Garden Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alabama Crimson'
crimson-flowers, grows 10-20’ long, dark blue-green leaves. - 'Cedar Lane'
long, narrow, tubular, vermillion red flowers (to 2” long) with yellow throats - 'Dropmore Scarlet'
- 'Flava'
AKA, 'Sulphurea', profuse bright yellow blooms and bright green foliage. - 'John Clayton'
yellow-flowered, compact, tendency to rebloom, profuse berries. - 'Leo'
Red flowers, long bloom time, blue-green leaves - 'Major Wheeler'
Repeat blooming of reddish orange flowers - 'Sulfurea'
yellow
- 'Alabama Crimson'
- 'Alabama Crimson', 'Cedar Lane', 'Dropmore Scarlet', 'Flava', 'John Clayton', 'Leo', 'Major Wheeler', 'Sulfurea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alabama Crimson'
crimson-flowers, grows 10-20’ long, dark blue-green leaves. - 'Cedar Lane'
long, narrow, tubular, vermillion red flowers (to 2” long) with yellow throats - 'Dropmore Scarlet'
- 'Flava'
AKA, 'Sulphurea', profuse bright yellow blooms and bright green foliage. - 'John Clayton'
yellow-flowered, compact, tendency to rebloom, profuse berries. - 'Leo'
Red flowers, long bloom time, blue-green leaves - 'Major Wheeler'
Repeat blooming of reddish orange flowers - 'Sulfurea'
yellow
- 'Alabama Crimson'
- 'Alabama Crimson', 'Cedar Lane', 'Dropmore Scarlet', 'Flava', 'John Clayton', 'Leo', 'Major Wheeler', 'Sulfurea'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lonicera
- Species:
- sempervirens
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- It has been used medicinally (dried and smoked) for asthma. The juice of the plant (leaves ground by chewing) is beneficial in the treatment of bee stings. The leaves have been used as a decoction for coughs and sore throats.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern United States
- Distribution:
- Eastern US
- Fire Risk Rating:
- extreme flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and some moth pollinators. The small red berries are eaten by songbirds. The foliage may be eaten by white-tailed deer. It is a nectar source of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and a larval host for the Spring Azure Butterfly and the Snowberry Clearwing Moth.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
- 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:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- 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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- 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:
- The inedible rounded red berries form in late summer to early fall and can be ornamentally attractive. The small red berries are attractive to birds and less than an inch in size. Displays from July to September
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The Trumpet Honeysuckle has large, non-fragrant, narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers that have rich scarlet to orange-red on the outside and yellowish inside. Flowers have 4 upper lobes and 1 lower lobe. Its flowers appear in late spring from March to July at stem ends in whorled clusters Flowers are 1.5-2" in size.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Trumpet Honeysuckle has opposite, simple, ovate to oblong-ovate, dark bluish-green leaves (3 inches long, 2 inches across) that are glaucous (of a dull grayish-green or blue color) and pubescent beneath. The leaves have a smooth margin. The leaves immediately below the flowers are joined at the base in a complete ring, fused into an oblong disk and are sessile. Leaf shape is highly variable within a single plant; early season leaves are linear and strap-like whereas later-developing leaves are oblong to elliptic or obovate.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Green
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Papery
- Bark Description:
- Its bark is smooth and green with a slight fuzziness when young. As the vine ages, the bark turns brown and begins to flake.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are twining, straw-colored, and are glabrous on new growth.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Recreational Play Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Compaction
- Deer
- Salt
