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Native Plant Society of Texas

Coral Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Other common name(s):

Trumpet Honeysuckle, Woodbine

Family:

Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Vine

Height

3
to
20
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Caliche, Clay, Rich, Sand, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red, Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

Drought tolerant, but needs supplemental water to get established. Good climber or ground cover. Needs structural assistance to help it climb. Great for arbors. Requires good air circulation and good drainage to prevent powdery mildew. Roots should be kept shaded. Prune to direct and control growth. Good replacement for non-native Catclaw Vine (Dolichandra unguis-cati). Native habitat: woodlands, thickets, and roadsides.

Description

Blooms March-June. A high climbing, twining vine, with papery, orange-brown, exfoliating bark. Leaves are narrowly oblong, with a waxy coating beneath. The uppermost pair of leaves are fused into a diamond-shaped disc. Trumpet-shaped flowers are clustered in one to four whorls at branch tips. The fruit is a red berry with several seeds. Larval host: Spring Azure and Snowberry Clearwing Moth.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Lonicera sempervirens var. hirsutula, Lonicera sempervirens var. minor, Lonicera sempervirens var. sempervirens, Phenianthus sempervirens

References

1) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 53 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 359. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOSE. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Lonicera+sempervirens&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=7120&locationType=County&mapType=Normal., 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=35303#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014. 8) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/lonicera-sempervirens#:~:text=Provide%20a%20sturdy%20trellis%2C%20fence,Description 9) https://mygardenersays.com/2018/01/16/coral-honeysuckle-lonicera-sempervirens-a-seasonal-look/#:~:text=Coral%20honeysuckle%20prefers%20well%2Ddraining,of%20these%20tough%2C%20pretty%20vines.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Softwood Cutting Remove the bottom sets of leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Insert the cutting in a small pot filled with damp potting mix, deep enough so the two nodes are buried. Place the pot with the cutting in bright light away from direct sunlight. Keep it moist. As new growth appears, check for root growth by gently tugging, if there is resistance, roots have formed. Leave it in the pot and keep it well=watered for at least another month before transplanting it into the landscape in the fall. Using sharp pruners, cut a 6-inch piece of softwood vine, ideally with two nodes near the cut end and two sets of leaves at the tip of the cutting. https://www.thespruce.com/coral-honeysuckle-guide-5190661
Seed Stratification Stratification for two to three months at 40 degrees. Pant the seeds on small pots filled with well-draining, damp potting mix. Cover the seeds lightly. Place a clear dome or plastic bag or over the seeds to retain moisture. Keep the soil moist. Once the seeds have germinated, remove the cover. Collect seeds in late summer to early fall when berries turn ripe color. Clean immediately to avoid fermentation and overheating. Store in sealed containers at 34-38 degrees. 1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=lose 2) https://www.thespruce.com/coral-honeysuckle-guide-5190661

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason