Lonicera x heckrottii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-NIS-er-ah hek-ROT-ee-eye
- Description
-
Goldflame Honeysuckle is a spreading, twining, deciduous shrub with branches climbing up to 13 feet but can be pruned to a 6-foot shrub if desired. The hybrid formula of this artificial cross is L. caprifolium × L. etrusca × L. sempervirens.
It blooms spring to early summer and is somewhat fragrant, with attractive leaves, but rarely produces fruits. It does best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils and full sun, but is adaptable to various soils and can tolerate some drought once established. Lonicera × heckrotti is intolerant of alkaline soils but needs to be planted where there is good air circulation to help prevent downy mildew. It grows well on arbors, fences, and around light and mailbox poles but Its growth habit is typically not dense enough to form a complete screen. The flower display is poorer in shaded areas.
This plant has no serious pest or disease problems but can be susceptible to powdery mildew and may be troubled by aphids.
It is listed as invasive in Illinois but has not been reported as invasive elsewhere.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gold Flame'
Deep reddish-purple flowers - 'Pink Lemonade'
Pink with cream and yellow accents.
- 'Gold Flame'
- 'Gold Flame', 'Pink Lemonade'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Gold Flame'
Deep reddish-purple flowers - 'Pink Lemonade'
Pink with cream and yellow accents.
- 'Gold Flame'
- 'Gold Flame', 'Pink Lemonade'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lonicera
- Family:
- Caprifoliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Leaf Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Berries are edible by birds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 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
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- 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:
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are red berries that grow up to 1/4-inch in size.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The 1.5-inch, weakly fragrant, tubular flowers are pinkish-purple on the outside and open to show a yellow corolla and bloom in terminal whorls from spring to fall. They are carmine in bud and become pink as the flowers open. Flowers are 5-lobed, small, obtuse, and yellow. The inflorescence is terminal spikes to subpanicles and abundantly flowered. Flowers are borne in whorls and bracts are large, leaf-like, and fused to form a disk at the base of the peduncle.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Connate leaves (encircling stem) under terminal flower clusters are opposite, simple, oblong or elliptic, bluntly acute, glabrous, lustrous dark blue-green above and glaucous below. Juvenile leaves are purplish with a reddish tinge and fused at the base. Leaves are 1- 2.5 inches long by .75-1.75 inches wide and grow on reddish stems.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Reddish stems are glabrous and thin.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Vertical Spaces
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Drought
- Humidity
- Salt
