Lonicera flava
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Tried and True Recommended by 2 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: honeysuckle
Type: Vine
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Native Range: Southeast United States
Height: 10 to 20 feet
Spread: 3 to 6 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: orange-yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Fruit: Showy Fruit
Wildlife: Attracts Birds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Butterflies
Tolerates: Black Walnuts, Deer

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Needs a structure upon which to grow and some help in twining up that structure, or it may simply become shrubby or trail along the ground. Best flowering in full sun. Not invasive like the weedy Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).

Noteworthy Characteristics

This honeysuckle (often commonly called yellow honeysuckle) is a deciduous, woody, twining vine which typically grows 10-20'. It is a Missouri native which occurs in rocky soils in woods, slopes, bluffs, ledges and stream margins in the Ozark region of the State. Elliptic green leaves (to 3.5" long) are grayish green below and are paired along the stems, with the uppermost leaves on each stem joined at the bases (perfoliate). Two-lipped, tubular, mildly-fragrant, orange-yellow flowers (to 1.25" long) appear in whorls at the stem ends in mid-spring. Flowers give way to round, fleshy, orange to red berries (1/4" diameter) which appear in late summer. Berries are not edible, but birds love them. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers. Flava means yellow in Latin.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems.

Garden Uses

Train on a trellis, arbor or fence. Good vine for a native plant garden or bird garden. May be grown along the ground as a ground cover in wild or naturalized areas.

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