College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources

Plant Database

Lonicera sempervirens

Trumpet Honeysuckle, Coral Honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae

Trumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral HoneysuckleTrumpet Honeysuckle, Coral Honeysuckle
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Habitat

  • native to Connecticut down through Florida and across to Texas
  • hardy to zone 4, warmer parts of 3

Habit and Form

  • a deciduous twining vine
  • somewhat vigorous
  • 10' to 20', depending on structure
  • medium texture
  • fast growth rate

Summer Foliage

  • opposite, simple leaves
  • simple, deciduous leaves
  • ovate leaf shape
  • 1" to 3" long
  • glaucous underside
  • first two leaf pairs below flower are connected
  • leafs out early
  • blue-green leaf color
  • new growth reddish purple

Autumn Foliage

  • no fall color
  • leaves drop green

Flowers

  • perfect flowers
  • flower is orangy-red on the outside and yellow on the inside
  • tubular
  • up to 2" long
  • flowers clustered on whorled spikes
  • blooms in spring and sporadic through season

Fruit

  • deep, red berries
  • 0.25" in diameter
  • matures in September

Bark

  • twining, thin stems
  • tan colored
  • glabrous

Culture

  • easy to grow
  • easily transplanted
  • prefers well-drained, neutral soil
  • full sun to shade
  • needs support
  • prune after flowering

Landscape Use

  • quick covering vine
  • bank cover
  • fence cover
  • arbor
  • for flowering effect
  • attracts hummingbirds

Liabilities

  • powdery mildew
  • leaf spot

ID Features

  • first two leaf pairs are connected under flowers
  • twining vine
  • dual colored flowers
  • flowers are not fragrant
  • opposite leaf arrangement
  • small red fruit
  • no fall color

Propagation

  • by cuttings
  • by seed

Cultivars/Varieties

'Alabama Crimson' - A cultivar that is becoming very common in commerce, this plant sports bright red blooms that are produced sporadically throughout the season.

'Blanche Sandman' - This form has orange-red blooms that are produced even after the initial flush. It is resistant to leaf diseases.

'Cedar Lane' - A deep red-flowering form, this plant produces abundant bloom. It is less prone to leaf diseases.

'John Clayton' - Becoming more popular in the trade, this selection bears clear yellow blooms that repeat throughout the season.

'Magnifica' (perhaps f. magnifica, may be the same as 'Superba') - A cultivar of questionable identity and existence, this plant features bright red blooms that will repeat with good culture.

'Sulphurea' (also known as 'Flava') - This form features profuse bright yellow blooms and bright green foliage.

© Copyright Mark H. Brand, 1997-2015.

The digital materials (images and text) available from the UConn Plant Database are protected by copyright. Public use via the Internet for non-profit and educational purposes is permitted. Use of the materials for profit is prohibited.

Citation and Acknowledgements: University of Connecticut Plant Database, https://plantdatabase.uconn.edu/, Mark H. Brand, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Storrs, CT 06269-4067 USA.