Lonicera sempervirens

Low maintenance and showy, Trumpet Honeysuckle blooms intermittently until frost with coral flowers and red fruit present together. A more compact form, ‘John Clayton,’ produces fragrant yellow flowers and copious orange-red fruit. It was discovered in 1991 on the grounds of a 17th century Virginia church. The species name “sempervirens” refers to the plant’s evergreen habit, particularly in the South.* The Virginia Native Plant Society selected Trumpet Honeysuckle as Wildflower of the Year for 2014.

*It is native to DC, common in DE, and clustered mainly in the extreme southwestern corner of PA. In VA, it is frequent in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont and infrequent in the mountains. It is native to NoVA except for Fairfax County.

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.

Fire Risk: This plant has an extreme flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home.

Notes: Can be used in container garden with big trellis