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Written by Mimi J, Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener
Although its appearance and fragrance remind many of us of summer, invasive honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) can cause ecological harm. Being a vine, it can both form a mat on the forest floor and climb up trees and shrubs. Its robust growth can shade out native understory plants and kill shrubs and saplings by crowding and girdling them.
There is a beautiful, native, alternative – the coral or trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Its red tubular flowers bloom from late spring through fall and attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. It also serves as a host plant to the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon) and the snowberry clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe). Coral honeysuckle produces berries in the late summer to early fall, which are enjoyed by many species of birds. As a bonus, it’s both drought tolerant and deer resistant.
To get the most flowers from this native vine, plant it in a sunny location with rich, moist, well-draining soil.
For more information on alternatives to invasive species, see Rutgers Fact Sheet 1353: Invasive Plants and Native Alternatives for Landscapes.
This article originally ran in the September/October 2023 issue of “In the Garden,” the Somerset County Rutgers Master Gardener newsletter.
