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Brundage, Stephanie

Lonicera sempervirens

Lonicera sempervirens L.

Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Woodbine

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Synonym(s): Lonicera sempervirens var. hirsutula, Lonicera sempervirens var. minor, Lonicera sempervirens var. sempervirens, Phenianthus sempervirens

USDA Symbol: lose

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

High-climbing, twining vine, 3-20 ft. long, with smooth, glossy, paired, semi-evergreen leaves and 2-4 flowered clusters of red, tubular blooms followed by bright-red berries. Leaves ovate to oblong with smooth, rolled down margins and a blunt or short pointed tip those immediately below the flowers fused at the base. This vine has showy, trumpet-shaped flowers, red outside, yellow inside, in several whorled clusters at the ends of the stems. Papery, exfoliating bark is orange-brown in color. Fruit a red berry.

This beautiful, slender, climbing vine is frequently visited by hummingbirds. Not too aggressive. Good climber or ground cover. The species name refers to its evergreen habit, especially in the South. Upper leaves are united. Five additional species also have upper leaves united. They differ from L. sempervirens in having wide spreading flower lobes.

The genus, Lonicera, is named for Adam Lonicer (1528 - 1586), a German botanist noted for his 1557 revised version of Eucharius R�sslin�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.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Stems up to about 20 feet long.
Leaf: Green
Flower: Flowers 2 inches long.
Fruit: Red to black. 0.25 in.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Blooms usually red but some cultivars/varieties yellow. Normally blooms mid-spring and intermittently thereafter.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
Native Distribution: S. ME to FL & e. TX; scattered inland to IL, Zones 6 to 9
Native Habitat: East Texas woodlands. Well-drained sand, clay.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Various soils, but rich preferred. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Caliche type. Both lime and acidic OK.
Conditions Comments: Coral honeysuckle requires light, good air circulation, and adequate drainage to prevent powdery mildew. Some structural assistance may be necessary to help it begin climbing. Flowers best when given more sun. Tolerates poor drainage for short periods.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Good twining vine with prominent blooms for full sun. Great for arbors.
Use Wildlife: Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Fruits attract quail, Purple Finch, Goldfinch, Hermit Thrush, American Robin.
Use Medicinal: Dried and smoked for asthma, leaves ground by chewing and applied to bee stings. (Weiner) Leaves make a decoction for sore throats and coughs.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies , Hummingbirds
Larval Host: Spring Azure, Snowberry Clearwing Moth
Nectar Source: yes

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Bumble Bees

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

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Spring Azure
(Celastrina "ladon" )

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Snowberry clearwing
(Hemaris diffinis)

Larval Host

Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: The easiest way to propagate is by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings taken from summer to fall. Layering is another means of propagation. Seed must be stratified.
Seed Collection: Collect seeds in late summer to early fall when berries turn ripe color. Clean immediately to avoid fermentation and overheating. Store in sealed containers at 34-38 degrees.
Seed Treatment: Stratification for two to three months at 40 degrees.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Prune after flowering to shape and control. May have aphids in spring; hose off or allow ladybugs and lacewings to eat. Snip new growth and damaged buds.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Toxicity and invasiveness of Scarlet Wisteria
May 04, 2007
I recently purchased seeds for Scarlet Wisteria (Chinese rattlebox tree). I spoke to a neighbor about this and she warned me not to plant them as they were poisonous to hummingbirds. Can you clarify...
view the full question and answer

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				FACU	FAC		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.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2019-01-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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