NICE! Plant of the Month

For April 2004, March 2010

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Coral honeysuckle (evergreen honeysuckle or woodbine) is a perennial, almost evergreen vine with a woody base. Native to the eastern half of Texas and the eastern U.S as far north as Massachusetts, coral honeysuckle can be found in woods, thickets, slopes, cliffs, and sandy soils. The high climbing or trailing runners can be 15 feet or longer, making coral honeysuckle suitable as a fence or trellis covering, a tall ground cover, a slope stabilizer or a small shrub. The simple, opposite leaves are 2.5 inches long, round to oval, and have a whitish underside. The plant's common name refers to its coral-colored flowers. In our area, coral honeysuckle usually blooms from March – May, but it may bloom almost all year long. The two-inch-long slender trumpet-shaped flowers occur in clusters of four to ten blossoms. April - December brings the very showy bright red, berries. For humans, the berries are not edible.

Coral honeysuckle grows best in moist, fertile soils, but can be planted in sand, loam, clay, caliche or poorly drained soils. This plant prefers morning sun and afternoon shade, but can be planted in full sun. Its growth can be controlled, and it will not overwhelm the landscape.

Space plants 6-8 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place it into the hole. Backfill, using soil that was dug from the hole. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.

After planting coral honeysuckle, water the site well in order to settle soil around roots. An organic-based root stimulator may be used according to instructions on the product label. Water deeply a few days after planting, then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the rootball Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. From the second spring and thereafter, water monthly only in periods of drought.

Coral honeysuckle is an excellent plant for attracting butterflies, birds and hummingbirds. It is great for arbors, because it is not a messy plant. Most reliable way to propagate is by softwood cuttings taken from summer to fall. It is a nice plant to use in a hanging-basket planter.

Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery.  And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.