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Lonicera sempervirens (Trumpet or Coral Honeysuckle)

Lonicera sempervirens 'John Clayton'
Lonicera sempervirens ar Green Spring Gardens in April
Using vines such as Lonicera sempervirens can save space in smaller gardens. Photo © Elaine Mills
Lonicera sempervirens in a residential landscape
Trumpet honeysuckle can bloom intermittently until frost.
Perfoliate leaves of Lonicera sempervirens
The vine’s berry-like fruit is a food source for birds from August to March.

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Tried and True Native Plant Selections Trumpet or Coral Honeysuckle for the Mid-Atlantic Low maintenance and showy, Trumpet Honeysuckle blooms intermittently until frost with coral flowers and red fruit present together. A more compact cultivar, ‘John Clayton,’ produces fragrant yellow flowers and copious orange-red fruit. It was discovered in 1991 on the grounds of a 17th century Virginia church. The species name “sempervirens” refers to the plant’s evergreen habit, particularly in the South.* The Virginia Native Plant Society selected Trumpet Honeysuckle as Wildflower of the Year for 2014. Vine Spring Vines, Fall Flowers/Fruit, w/ Pollinators** Height: 8–20 feet (‘John Clayton’ 6–12 feet) Spread: 6–12 feet (‘John Clayton’ 3–5 feet) Bloom Color: Coral to red, with yellow Characteristics Vigorous, twining, semi-evergreen, perennial vine Opposite, oval, blue-green leaves, some perfoliate Whorled clusters of long, narrow, trumpet-shaped flowers, orange-red outside/yellow inside, bloom from April to June, then intermittently until frost Green berries mature to red August to March Attributes Tolerates clay soil and Black Walnut No serious pests or diseases, although powdery mildew likely if air circulation is poor; deer occasionally browse foliage and stems Attracts hummingbirds, lepidopterans, and bees to the flowers and birds to the berries; larval host to Hummingbird and Snowberry Clearwing moths Growing and Maintenance Tips Excellent Replacement for Soil Requirements: Loamy, well-drained soil Akebia quinata - Chocolate Vine Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Celastrus orbiculatus - Oriental Bittersweet Water Requirements: Moist Clematis terniflora - Sweet Autumn Clematis Transplants well Humulus japonicus - Japanese Hop Sunnier the site, more prolific the flowers Lonicera japonica - Japanese Honeysuckle Prune after flowering *It is native to DC, common in DE, and clustered mainly in the extreme southwestern corner of PA. In VA, it is frequent in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont and infrequent in the mountains. It is native to NoVA except for Fairfax County. **In mid-August, a ruby-throated hummingbird feeds on species flowers and a bumble bee visits ‘John Clayton.’ Use as climber on arbors, fences or as ground cover Hardiness: USDA Zones 4–9 developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills (top left) and Mary Free, private gardens, Arlington, VA and (w/ bee) Glencarlyn Garden

A Tried and True Native Plant Selection
for the Mid-Atlantic

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Lonicera sempervirens (Trumpet or Coral Honeysuckle)

Low maintenance and showy, Trumpet Honeysuckle blooms intermittently until frost with coral flowers and red fruit present together. A more compact form, ‘John Clayton,’ produces fragrant yellow flowers and copious orange-red fruit. It was discovered in 1991 on the grounds of a 17th century Virginia church. The species name “sempervirens” refers to the plant’s evergreen habit, particularly in the South.* The Virginia Native Plant Society selected Trumpet Honeysuckle as Wildflower of the Year for 2014.

*It is native to DC, common in DE, and clustered mainly in the extreme southwestern corner of PA. In VA, it is frequent in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont and infrequent in the mountains. It is native to NoVA except for Fairfax County.

Video © Mary Free
Hummingbirds favor Lonicera flowers. Just watch this video–or better yet, plant Lonicera sempervirens in your garden–and see for yourself:

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets