Native Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera Sempervirens in the Garden

Native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, is commonly referred to as red, trumpet or coral honeysuckle. The genus Lonicera is named for German naturalist Adam Lonitzer (1828-56). Sempervirens is Latin for “always green.”

As twining vines, honeysuckles are genetically programmed to twine counterclockwise. Training honeysuckle to twine otherwise leads to backlash.

Ornamental Attributes

The ornamental attributes of trumpet honeysuckle endear it to gardeners. These well-behaved climbers bring decorative flowers and foliage to the vertical landscape.

Trumpet honeysuckle begins to bloom in spring with dogwoods and continues sporadically throughout summer. The slender 2″ long tubular yellow, orange, or red flowers are not fragrant. Five stamens with anthers covered in pollen and one sticky stigma protrude from each flower tube. Flowers, arranged in whorls of six at the shoot tip of each stem, dangle downward. In autumn ¼” red berries ripen.

The oval leaves, green on top and seagreen underneath, are set opposite each other along the stem. At the stem growth tips pairs of leaves fuse into single green shield-like discs encircling the stem.

Older stems of trumpet honeysuckle have attractive exfoliating bark.

Culture

Native honeysuckle is found in woodland settings throughout its native range from Connecticut to Florida and west to Nebraska and Texas. In its natural habitat its roots are in the shade and its flowers reach for the sun. Depending on the location, vines stretch 10-20 feet.

In the garden trumpet honeysuckle flowers best in full-sun but tolerates some shade.

Trumpet honeysuckle adapts to most soils and to a soil pH from 4.5 to 8.5. It requires well-drained sitings.

Trumpet honeysuckle grows in plant hardiness zones 4-9.

Propagation

Propagation is by seed in spring and autumn and by cuttings in summer and autumn.

Pests and Diseases

Native honeysuckles are normally considered low-maintenance. They have few pests and diseases. Aphids and spider mites can be controlled with insecticidal soaps. A bacterial infection, Pseudomonas, can cause leaf drop toward the end of summer but without permanent damage. Leaves are also somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew if air circulation or light is restricted.

Pruning

Since trumpet honeysuckle has a restrained growth in comparison to non-native honeysuckles, pruning should be restrained as well. Prune lightly after flowering to prevent legginess, remove dead shoots, and encourage continued flowering.

Landscape Uses

The fast-growing perennial vine may be used as a climber or a ground cover. It can be trained over an entrance arbor or extended across the top of a privacy fence. Supports for the climber may include poles like drain spouts, lampposts and host trees, pergolas, screens, gazebos, walls, tripods, trellises, rock piles, and pyramids.

The lightweight vine is a favorite for mailbox posts and small garden arbors.

Lonicera sempervirens is safe around wood, brick and mortar because it doesn’t have clingy aerial rootlets like some vines.

Wildlife gardeners include native honeysuckles like Lonicera sempervirens because blooms attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. However, even if not in bloom the foliage harbors insects and spiders for insectivores. The vine’s dense foliage makes a suitable nesting and foraging area for songbirds.

Cultivars of Lonicera Sempervirens

Trumpet honeysuckle is the parent of many choice hybrids. Popular cultivars for the garden include:

• Alabama Crimson -bright red
• Alba – white
• Blanche Sandman – reddish orange
• Cedar Lane – deep red
• Dropmore Scarlet – bright red
• John Clayton – pure yellow
• Magnifica – bright red
• Rosea – rosy pink
• Sulphurea – bright yellow
• Superba – vivid scarlet

The versatile native trumpet honeysuckle and its offspring are captivating and courteous climbers for the garden.