PlantFiles: Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens

We don't get many hummingbirds around here, but I like to have a hummingbird plant blooming just in case. Lonicera sempervirens has at least a few flowers most of the time. The first bloom in spring is sensational. This year the spring bloom was damaged by lots of aphids. I sprayed but too late. It's a tough plant though, and came back well. It's very cold hardy and can handle hard pruning. I've grown mine on my ugly gas meter, which the vine hides well. After pruning, try putting cuttings into the ground with a little rooting powder., and water well. Worked for me.

I have this plant growing on a trellis. I cut it almost to the ground in early spring and fertilized it. It is blooming the best it ever has! It is about 4 years old.

Awesome Plant! If you buy this plant your guaranteed to get Hummingbirds sooner or later. It can either be grown as a climbing vine or as a bush. I have seen it both ways. Berries come in the fall and provide food to other types of birds.

This plant is hardy once established. I have had this plant for 12 years now and it is doing just fine. Here in Irrigon, OR I had never seen a hummingbird until I planted this plant,now they are regular visitors.

I have had this plant in my front hard, planted at the base of a metal bird house pole for several years. The moose have trimmed it for me a few times, but now I spray it with Plant Skyyd to keep them away. Problem is that while it is woody and mature, it really doesn't bloom much, and hardly gets any taller. I wanted it to grow up and over the bird house (15') but no luck. I see that it really doesn't care about PH, so what about fertilizer? I want this vine to be healthy and abundant, but am about ready to replace it with something else. Ideas?

I noticed no one even commented on the tasty fun of this plant. Both the white/yellow honeysuckle as well as this one have a very sweet nectar inside. As kids and even still today here where I live, we'll pick the flower, bite off the very back end, spit it out and then suck the nectar out of the back of the flower. To this day I still wish there were a way to harvest it for a syrup, if only they made it in greater amounts, but that makes the little treat all the more something to savor and memories to cherish.

I have looked everywhere for this vine and can not find it. I have had a friend send me some but it did not make it. I am looking for some cuttings of this vine. Please let me know if you can help. Thank.s

I love this native. 2 popped up on our chain-linked fence in the backyard. The first one showed up 2 years ago and a second has just sprouted this year...which means the little one won't bloom til next year. Since it is on the fence I hope the neighbors don't cut it down thinking it is an invasive vine!

This is one gorgeous honeysuckle! When in mass, it is
simply stunning, you can't help but to gasp at the sight.

Easily transplanted, easily divided and shared. Evergreen
habit helps to fill in the blanks during cold periods of the year.

Love it, can't plant enough of it!

Beautifully blooming this year.

Its 3rd year against the fence, partial sun and shade. Took a hard freeze this winter. Bloomed out heartily MARCH APRIL 2007.
6 fingered - Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens

ADDING NEW PHOTOS FROM APRIL 2007.

I have trained 2 plants along a fence in nearly full sun. It blooms heavily in the spring and then sparsely the rest of the season. As Floridian noted, it provides a great stage for hummer viewing. In my experience, one must keep an eye out for aphids on new growth.

My Mom got a start of this from her Grandmother over 30 years ago and we still have it! She knows it as Woodbine Vine. We have it outside our livingroom window, and get the privilege of watching birds build nests and raise their young in it.

I have read that it is hardy to zone 3. Blooms May - July in my garden.

Gorgeous plant: leaves are silvery-green, blossoms are coral with yellow center, fruit is red. Hummingbirds and butterflies adore these flowers. I have them in full sun, with a heavy pine-bark mulch to help compensate for the thin soil over limestone. The first 2 years, top growth was slow while roots grew. The 3rd year has been spectacular. This is the prettiest honeysuckle I've ever grown; I hope to always have at least one in my garden.

I have Lonicera sempervirens 'John Clayton' growing through my lilac bush. It blooms throughout the spring and summer after the lilac. I've had it for a few years and I just added three more; 'Sulphurea', 'Magnifica' and 'Cedar Lane'. This plant is definitely worth growing, it has no faults. It grows demurely, it flowers over a long period and is not at all invasive. It blooms most heavily in the spring and then intermittently thereafter. It adds color and interest to a big clump of lilac long after the lilac has finished blooming.It requires no special care or attention once it has been established.

Here in Southern Michigan it is thriving! It stays evergreen all winter with no mulching and no care!
It only got sporadic sun due to a huge Willow (which had to be removed last year), and now with sun it finally bloomed!
First time in 6 years! Oh I am so glad I planted it!
I cut it way back this spring (late March early April) and it seems to love that. I have it growing on a 4 foot fence between the neighbors and wish I could have a 10 footer! LOL
My plant is yellow, so haven't noticed any Hummers yet...they don't like my yard for some reason.

Unfortunately, I don't have a pic to share yet. Soon though. If this is the same plant, I picked it up last year under the name "Blanche Sandman". I've been growing it in a container for lack of space. Surprisingly, it's been thriving. The Hummingbirds love it. I was worried that the winter would damage it, but there was no reason to worry. It came through like a champ.

Easy to grow and pretty much pest free. Coral Honeysuckle makes a great garden plant here in West KY. It grows quickly, and although it's not supposed to be evergreen this far North, my plant keeps leaves all through the winter. It starts blooming in mid March and will hang on till the first hard freeze...usually in mid November. Hummingbirds love it, and wrens will nest in it. Great for wildlife.

We are growing this on an south eastern fence where it is in almost complete shade but it is doing well, goes into bloom in late March. It is behaving like an evergreen in our zone 9.

I live on a dry sand hill, and this vine has been wonderful for me. The bloom season is very long.

Red trumpet shaped flowers with yellow inside. Fruit are scarlet berries. This climbing vine is a favorite of the Ruby Throat Hummingbird. A native plant found in woods, thickets and roadside fences it flowers April through August.