Coral Honeysuckle

Semi-Woody Deciduous Vine  •  $6, 4-inch pot

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Height	3 to 20 ft
Spread	2 o 4 ft
Sun Exposure	Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture	Medium
Bloom Color	Pink-Red
Bloom Time	May – Aug
Companion Plantings	Wild Petunia (at base)
Special Attributes

Lonicera sempervirens

This semi-woody twining vine is as phenomenal for wildlife as it is for your garden. Stunning, 2-inch long tubular flowers begin appearing as early as May and continue well into summer, although blooming is most profuse in late Spring. Coral Honeysuckle needs a heavily anchored trellis or sturdy fence on which to grow, but is not as aggressive as some of our other native vines. Also called Trumpet Honeysuckle, this plant will thrive in medium moisture in full sun to light shade. Leaves will yellow if the soil becomes too dry, and the foliage is somewhat susceptible to powdery mildew, a non-fatal fungal disease, so try to plant in an area with good air circulation. This is an excellent replacement for the heavily invasive Japanese Honeysuckle vine (Lonicera japonica).

The bright red-pink blooms are a magnet for hummingbirds, but they also draw butterflies. Songbirds, including the American Robin, Goldfinch, and Purple Finch, consume the berries, and this plant is a significant host plant, feeding at least 26 species of caterpillars in the Louisville area, including the Humminbird Clearwing (pictured) and Snowberry Clearwing moths. The native range of Coral Honeysuckle is mostly confined to the Southeast, but naturally occurring populations have been found in Jefferson County, Kentucky. This plant is not native to Indiana. Lonicera sempervirens is an overall easy plant to grow with fantastic wildlife value.

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