North Carolina Botanical Garden

Plant Index

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Genus:
Family:

Lonicera sempervirens

Lonicera sempervirens L.

coral honeysuckle, trumpet honeysuckle

Synonym(s): Lonicera sempervirens var. hirsutula, Lonicera sempervirens var. minor, Lonicera sempervirens var. sempervirens, Phenianthus sempervirens
Cultivar(s): Cedar Lane, John Clayton, Leo, Major Wheeler, Pink, Sulphurea

Lonicera sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle)

Image ID: 12980
Image by: Cressler, Alan M.
Image Collection: NCBG Digital Library

PLANT INDEX

ID_PLANT: LOSE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lonicera sempervirens
Include in WOTAS: 0
Publish to Web: 1
Last Modified: 2019-02-12

CULTIVAR INDEX

Cult_id	Cultivar_name	Action
632	Cedar Lane	View
30	John Clayton	View
177	Leo	View
10	Major Wheeler	View
633	Pink	View
634	Sulphurea	View

GENUS INDEX

GENUS CODE: LONIC
GENUS SCIENTIFIC: Lonicera
GENUS AUTHORITY: L.
GENUS COMMON: Honeysuckle
GENUS SUMMARY: A genus of about 180 species, shrubs and vines, mainly north temperate.
GENUS IDENTIFICATION:
GENUS REFERENCES: Ferguson (1966a)=Z; Rehder (1903)=Y; Green (1966).

FAMILY INDEX

FAMILY CODE: CAPRIF
FAMILY SCIENTIFIC: Caprifoliaceae
FAMILY AUTHORITY: A.L. de Jussieu 1789
FAMILY COMMON: Honeysuckle Family
FAMILY SUMMARY: As here broadly circumscribed, a family of about 30 genera and 900 species, shrubs, lianas, herbs, nearly cosmopolitan, but mainly north temperate and boreal. Circumscription of the family is controversial. Various segregate families (or reassignments) of taxa traditionally placed in the Caprifoliaceae have been proposed, including the transfer of Sambucus and Viburnum to the Adoxaceae, placement of Diervilla and Weigela in the Diervillaceae (Backlund & Pyck 1998), placement of Abelia and Linnaea in the Linnaeaceae (Backlund & Pyck 1998; Pyck et al. 2002), and retention of Lonicera, Symphoricarpos, and Triosteum in a much more narrowly circumscribed Caprifoliaceae. Alternatively, all these taxa could be included in the Caprifoliaceae, along with Dipsacaceae and Valerianaceae, as a more broadly circumscribed Caprifoliaceae (APG III 2009), a circumscription followed here.
FAMILY REFERENCE: Backlund & Pyck (1998); Pyck et al. (2002); Ferguson (1966a); Bell (2004); Ferguson (1965).

NCBG DESCRIPTIVES

INTRO:
STEMS:
LEAVES:
INFLORESCENCE:
FLOWERS:
FRUITS:
COMMENTS:
HEIGHT: Climbs 8-10 ft. or more

DURATION: Perennial
HABIT: Vine

LEAF ARRANGEMENT: Opposite
LEAF COMPLEXITY: Simple
LEAF RETENTION: Evergreen

FLORAL CHARACTERISTICS
SYMMETRY:
BLOOM TIME: Mar-July (and sporadically to Nov)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x	x

BLOOM COLOR: Red flowers

White	Red	Pink	Orange	Yellow	Green	Blue	Lavender	Purple	Violet	Brown	Not Applicable
	x			x

FRUITING PERIOD: Jul-Sep.

DISTRIBUTION
HABITAT TYPE:
NATIVE RANGE: eastern United States

HORTICULTURAL
Plant Sale Text: Clusters of rosy red trumpet-shaped flowers adorn this evergreen vine in early summer. Its foliage is a glossy deep bluish-green and its red berries add ornamental appeal in the fall. Coral honeysuckle is a fine vine to grow on fences, trellises, or mailbox posts. You and the hummingbirds will love it! (Do not confuse this well-behaved native vine with the better-known but invasive Japanese honeysuckle.)

Bloom Table Text: Unlike Japanese honeysuckle, coral honeysuckle is native to North Carolina and is non-invasive. It has a long bloom period, beginning in spring and continuing sporadically throughout the summer. The flowers are adored by hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees, and the fruits are an important food source for several species of bird. It may become even more valuable as more hummingbirds appear to be remaining in our area through the winter months. Coral honeysuckle also serves as a larval food for the spring azure butterfly. Excellent cultivars, Lonicera â€˜Major Wheeler,â€™ known for its especially early and ample blooms and a yellow selection,â€˜John Claytonâ€™ are two you will see here at NCBG.

NCBG Location: Children's Wonder Garden, Education Center landscape, Totten Center Landscape

Cultural Notes:

SOIL MOISTURE: Dry, Average, Moist/Wet
LIGHT EXPOSURE: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
MINIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 4
MAXIMUM HARDINESS ZONE: 9
GERMINATION CODE:
WILDLIFE VALUE: Bee Friendly, Butterfly Friendly, Hummingbird Friendly
DEER RESISTANCE:

GRIM COLLECTIONS

Coll_id	Project	Collection date	Collector	Action
1422	HORT	2006-10-14	Bryan	View
1767	HORT	2005-10-05	Bryan	View
1885	HORT	2011-01-01	Gocke	View

GRIM ACCESSIONS

acc_id	acc_num	acc_dt	coll_id	Action
2462	1986-2303			View
2906	1987-0439			View
3618	1991-0294			View
3710	1991-0405			View
4592	1992-0748			View
4965	1995-0083			View
5152	1995-0271			View
5541	1995-0664			View
6181	1995-1313			View
6452	1996-0072			View
6454	1996-0074			View
6459	1996-0079			View
6460	1996-0080			View
6617	1996-0252			View
6763	1996-0424			View
6817	1998-0022			View
6818	1998-0023			View
6966	1998-0175			View
7001	1998-0230			View
8480	2005-0574	2006-09-21		View
8481	2005-0575	2006-09-21		View
8875	2011-0206	2011-10-14	1885	View
9630	2023-0073	2023-04-24	0	View

GRIM PLANTINGS

plt_num	acc_id	loc_num	pers_num	inst_dt	Action
985	8875	42	NCBG staff	2011-11-02	View
4176	2462	142	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
4177	2462	27	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4178	2462	27	NCBG staff	1986-12-31	View
4179	2462	115	NCBG staff	1999-05-01	View
4817	2906	8	NCBG staff	1983-07-07	View
5912	3618	143	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
6014	3710	199	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
6921	4592	200	NCBG staff	1993-03-01	View
7384	4965	202	NCBG staff	1992-01-01	View
7578	5152	203	NCBG staff	1992-01-01	View
8055	5541	204	NCBG staff	1993-01-01	View
8836	6181	2	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
9120	6452	146	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
9123	6454	146	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
9135	6459	146	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
9136	6459	146	NCBG staff	0000-00-00	View
9345	6617	142	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
9346	6617	160	NCBG staff	1967-12-31	View
9347	6617	115	NCBG staff	1997-06-15	View
9556	6763	8	NCBG staff	1996-03-28	View
9644	6817	154	NCBG staff	1997-10-28	View
9645	6817	162	NCBG staff	1997-10-28	View
9646	6817	166	NCBG staff	1997-10-28	View
9647	6817	173	NCBG staff	1997-10-28	View
9648	6818	160	NCBG staff	1997-11-07	View
9836	6966	160	NCBG staff	1998-04-22	View
9837	6966	166	NCBG staff	1998-04-22	View
9876	7001	8	NCBG staff	1996-10-16	View
11710	8480	160	NCBG staff	2005-09-01	View
11711	8481	160	NCBG staff	2005-09-01	View
13562	9630	20	Liloia	2023-04-06	View
13563	9630	94	Liloia	2023-04-06	View
13564	9630	14	Liloia	2023-04-06	View
13565	9630	12	Liloia	2023-04-06	View
13614	0	60	Liloia	0000-00-00	View
13855	0	77	Liloia	0000-00-00	View

USDA PLANTS DATABASE

USDA Symbol: LOSE
USDA Common Name: Trumpet Honeysuckle
Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (I)
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), CAN (ON, QC)
Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Vine

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 2016 National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.3 (Lichvar, R.W., D.L. Banks, W.N. Kirchner, and N.C. Melvin. 2016. The National Wetland Plant List: 2016 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2016-30: 1-17. Published 28 April 2016. ISSN 2153 733X). Regions: AGCP-Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, AK-Alaska, AW-Arid West, CB-Caribbean, EMP-Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, GP-Great Plains, HI-Hawaii, MW-Midwest, NCNE-Northcentral and Northeast, WMCV-Western Mountains, Valleys & Coast

WEAKLEY FLORA

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lonicera sempervirens
COMMON NAME: Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle
SYNONYMY: [= GW, Il, Pa, RAB, Va, W, WH3, WV, Z; > L. sempervirens Linnaeus var. sempervirens - C, F, G, K, Y; > L. sempervirens Linnaeus var. hirsutula Rehder - C, F, G, K, Y; > L. sempervirens var. minor Aiton - F; = Phenianthus sempervirens (Linnaeus) Rafinesque - S]
PHENOLOGY: Mar-Jul (and sporadically to Nov); Jul-Sep.
HABITAT: Dry forests and woodlands, maritime forests.
COMMENTS: CT to OH and OK, south to c. peninsular FL and TX; and more widely distributed as an escape from cultivation. Var. hirsutula has sometimes been maintained, differing from var. sempervirens in its ciliate leaf margins, pubescent upper leaf surfaces, sometimes glandular hypanthia and stems (vs. glabrous); it is doubtful that these distinctions are taxonomically meaningful.
RANGE MAP: Lonicera sempervirens.png

Key to Map Symbols

ABOUT FAMILY (Weakley Flora)
Caprifoliaceae A.L. de Jussieu 1789 (Honeysuckle Family)
SUMMARY: As here broadly circumscribed, a family of about 30 genera and 900 species, shrubs, lianas, herbs, nearly cosmopolitan, but mainly north temperate and boreal. Circumscription of the family is controversial. Various segregate families (or reassignments) of taxa traditionally placed in the Caprifoliaceae have been proposed, including the transfer of Sambucus and Viburnum to the Adoxaceae, placement of Diervilla and Weigela in the Diervillaceae (Backlund & Pyck 1998), placement of Abelia and Linnaea in the Linnaeaceae (Backlund & Pyck 1998; Pyck et al. 2002), and retention of Lonicera, Symphoricarpos, and Triosteum in a much more narrowly circumscribed Caprifoliaceae. Alternatively, all these taxa could be included in the Caprifoliaceae, along with Dipsacaceae and Valerianaceae, as a more broadly circumscribed Caprifoliaceae (APG III 2009), a circumscription followed here.
REFERENCE: Backlund & Pyck (1998); Pyck et al. (2002); Ferguson (1966a); Bell (2004); Ferguson (1965).

ABOUT GENUS (Weakley Flora)
Lonicera L. (Honeysuckle)
SUMMARY: A genus of about 180 species, shrubs and vines, mainly north temperate.
REFERENCE: Ferguson (1966a)=Z; Rehder (1903)=Y; Green (1966).

HERBARIUM RESOURCES

SERNEC: Find Lonicera sempervirens in Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)
UNC SERNEC: Find Lonicera sempervirens in University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Herbarium - Southeast Regional Network of Experts and Collections (if available)

WEB RESOURCES

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

IMAGE USE RECORDS

ID IMAGE: 12980 - Primary Image FloraQuest Plant Detail Page (Landscape Preferred)
ID IMAGE1: 12980 - Primary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE2: 2935 - Secondary Image WOTAS
ID IMAGE3: 12980 - Primary Image Plant Sale Sign (Landscape Only)
ID IMAGE4: 0 - Primary Image New Plant Sale Label (Portrait Only)