Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Share

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:
Lonicera dioica (Limber honeysuckle)
Smith, R.W.

Lonicera dioica

Lonicera dioica L.

Limber Honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Synonym(s): Lonicera dioica var. dasygyna, Lonicera dioica var. glaucescens, Lonicera dioica var. orientalis, Lonicera glaucescens, Lonicera glaucescens var. dasygyna

USDA Symbol: lodi2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Limber Honeysuckle is a low, climbing, vine-like shrub with branches arching or twining 3-10 ft. from the plant. Distinctive, red, tubular flowers with yellow stamens are arranged in whorls at the end of branches. Red berries follow. Deciduous leaves are opposite, the uppermost pair being connate. Fall foliage is yellow.

The genus, Lonicera, is named for Adam Lonicer (1528 - 1586), a German botanist noted for his 1557 revised version of Eucharius Rösslin’s herbal. He became professor of Mathematics in 1553 and Doctor of Medicine in 1554, becoming the town physician in Frankfurt-am-Main. His true interest though was herbs and the study of botany.

 

From the Image Gallery

16 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Vine-like stems up to about 10 feet long.
Fruit: Red, Orange

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Orange , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , CT , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , ON
Native Distribution: Que. to n.e. B.C., s. to NC, TN & OK
Native Habitat: Dry to wet, open woods, woodland edges & thickets

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
Soil Description: Various moist to dry soils.
Conditions Comments: This species passes into var. glaucescens (larger leaves & smaller flowers) especially in the western part of its range.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Flowers attract hummingbirds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Species of Lonicera come easily from cuttings: hardwood cuttings outdoors or young summer shoots placed over bottom heat. Seeds germinate well if treated.
Seed Collection: Fruits of this genus are usually hand-picked and seeds are extracted by maceration.
Seed Treatment: Cold-moist stratification is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU FACU
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lonicera dioica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lonicera dioica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lonicera dioica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-16
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back