Lonicera sempervirens / Coral or Trumpet Honeysuckle

Vigorous, easy-to-grow woody twining American vine that’s a great alternative to the seriously invasive Japanese honeysuckle. Its showy flowers are loved by butterflies and ruby-throated hummingbirds. On the Daves Garden forum everyone loves this plant. (I’m so convinced by their comments, I’m getting one!)

Native to the Eastern and Central U.S. states, from CT west to NE, south to TX and FL.

Uses

Great in containers or in-ground. Can be trained to cover a fence or trellis. Also great growing up and through shrubs, and unlike its Asian cousins, it won’t strangle them (because it’s sparser).

Details

• Prefers full sun, tolerates partial sun, and one California gardener reports that it blooms in “almost complete shade,” though I sure wouldn’t count on it.
• Tube-shaped flowers bloom profusely in May-June, then sporadically, in red, coral, or bright yellow, depending upon the variety.
• Grows to 10-25 feet.
• Hardy in Zones 4-10.
• Its red berries feed songbirds; its flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Academic sources describe it as evergreen only in mild climates but one forum member reports that it’s evergreen in Michigan, so go figure.

Care

• Most sources list its need for water as “average,” though some describe it as drought-tolerant, which is always encouraging.
• Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center advises giving this plant good air circulation to prevent powdery mildew in the Texas climate.
• Prune to keep it growing only where you want it. (Remove suckers and unwanted stems.) Most sources say to prune in the winter, though Texans are told to prune after flowering.

Top photo by Jeff McMillian for the USDA; photo right courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden.