Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens var. sempervirens)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Dipsacales>Caprifoliaceae>Lonicera sempervirens L. var. sempervirens

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flowers

Coral Honeysuckle is a common semi-evergreen woody vine is found throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina.

The flowers at left are not quite open yet.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flowers

The ornamental trumpet-shaped flowers, which appear in April, are a favorite nectar source of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flowers

The last pair of leaves before the inflorescence are fused at the base.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Orange Co., NC 4/9/07.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Granville Co., NC 4/26/09.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Mecklenburg Co., VA 5/2/05.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Also known as Trumpet Honeysuckle, this native hummingbird-pollinated vine is much less common than the invasive Japanese Honeysuckle (L. japonica).

Vance Co., NC 4/28/04.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

The tubular red flowers are not fragrant.

Granville Co., NC 4/27/03.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

The semi-evergreen leaves are dark green above, glaucous beneath.

The usual variety in North Carolina is var. sempervirens, which has leaves with smooth upper surfaces and entire margins. The rare var. hirsutula has leaves with pubescent uppersurfaces and ciliate margins.

Durham, NC.

Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Newly emerging spring leaves. Despite the specific epithet sempervirens ("ever green"), this honeysuckle is deciduous.

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

More information:
Floridata
NC Plants
Salisbury University
University of Connecticut

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides