Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
America's native honeysuckle vine that hummingbirds absolutely adore, featuring tubular coral-red flowers from spring through fall. Unlike its invasive cousins, this well-behaved climber stays put while providing months of nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. The blue-green foliage and bright red berries add year-round interest to any garden structure.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
4–9
USDA hardiness
Height
10-20 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Coral Honeysuckle in USDA Zone 7
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Coral Honeysuckle · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Alabama Crimson'crimson-flowers, grows 10-20’ long, dark blue-green leaves. 'Cedar Lane'long, narrow, tubular, vermillion red flowers (to 2” long) with yellow throats 'Dropmore Scarlet' 'Flava'AKA, 'Sulphurea', profuse bright yellow blooms and bright green foliage. 'John Clayton'yellow-flowered, compact, tendency to rebloom, profuse berries. 'Leo'Red flowers, long bloom time, blue-green leaves 'Major Wheeler'Repeat blooming of reddish orange flowers 'Sulfurea'yellow, 'Alabama Crimson', 'Cedar Lane', 'Dropmore Scarlet', 'Flava', 'John Clayton', 'Leo', 'Major Wheeler', 'Sulfurea'. Propagation: Layering, Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The inedible rounded red berries form in late summer to early fall and can be ornamentally attractive. The small red berries are attractive to birds and less than an inch in size. Displays from July to September
Color: Black, Red/Burgundy. Type: Berry. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Southeastern United States
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Compaction, Deer, Salt
- +Attracts: Twining
- +Wildlife value: Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and some moth pollinators. The small red berries are eaten by songbirds. The foliage may be eaten by white-tailed deer. It is a nectar source of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and a larval host for the Spring Azure Butterfly and the Snowberry Clearwing Moth.
- +Fast-growing
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Bergamot
Attracts beneficial pollinators and shares similar growing conditions
Purple Coneflower
Both native plants that support butterflies and hummingbirds together
Cardinal Flower
Complements hummingbird attraction with red blooms at different heights
Native Azalea
Similar soil preferences and creates layered habitat for wildlife
Spicebush
Provides host plant for butterflies while honeysuckle offers nectar
Wild Columbine
Early blooms provide nectar before honeysuckle flowers
Elderberry
Attracts beneficial insects and birds that help with pest control
Native Ferns
Provide ground cover and retain moisture for shallow honeysuckle roots
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which inhibits growth of honeysuckle and many other plants
Japanese Honeysuckle
Aggressive invasive that can outcompete and smother coral honeysuckle
Autumn Olive
Invasive shrub that competes for resources and can shade out native honeysuckle
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance
Common Pests
Aphids occasionally, generally pest-free
Diseases
Powdery mildew in humid conditions, generally disease resistant