Honeysuckle, cherished for its fragrant blooms and attractive foliage, requires careful selection of varieties to ensure environmental responsibility. Choosing non-invasive types prevents harm to local ecosystems.
Understanding Invasive Honeysuckle
Some honeysuckle species are invasive due to aggressive growth and negative ecological impacts. These non-native plants, often introduced for ornamental purposes, outcompete native flora for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Species like Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and several bush honeysuckles (Lonicera maackii, L. morrowii, L. tatarica, L. x bella) form dense thickets, displacing native plants and reducing biodiversity.
Invasive honeysuckles disrupt local ecosystems in other ways. Their berries offer low nutritional value to birds compared to native fruits, negatively impacting bird health. These species leaf out earlier and retain leaves later, extending their growing season and monopolizing resources. Some also release chemicals into the soil that inhibit surrounding vegetation, a phenomenon known as allelopathy.
Distinguishing Honeysuckle Types
Visually identifying honeysuckle species helps differentiate between invasive and non-invasive varieties. One reliable method involves examining the stem’s pith. Invasive shrub honeysuckles typically have hollow stems with brown pith, while native honeysuckles possess solid stems with white or solid pith.
Leaf characteristics also offer clues; invasive shrub honeysuckles often have smooth-edged leaves, while some native bush honeysuckles have serrated edges. Flower color and structure also help distinguish them. Invasive types commonly produce white to yellow flowers that fade to yellow, followed by red berries. Many native honeysuckles feature tubular flowers in shades of red, orange, or pink, attractive to specific pollinators.
Popular Non-Invasive Honeysuckle Varieties
Numerous non-invasive honeysuckle varieties offer beautiful blooms and growth habits without ecological concerns.
Lonicera sempervirens, commonly known as Trumpet Honeysuckle or Coral Honeysuckle, is a popular choice native to the eastern United States. This semi-evergreen twining vine produces striking scarlet to orangish-red tubular flowers, often with yellow throats, that appear from early spring into summer. It grows 8 to 15 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.
Another notable variety is Lonicera reticulata ‘Kintzley’s Ghost’, a deciduous vine recognized for its unique visual appeal. This honeysuckle features slightly fragrant yellow flowers in late spring, uniquely surrounded by showy, circular, silver-dollar-sized bracts that persist throughout the growing season, giving it a ghostly silver-blue appearance. It can reach heights of 8 to 12 feet and spreads 3 to 5 feet, performing well in full sun to part shade in USDA Zones 4-8.
Lonicera periclymenum, or Woodbine Honeysuckle (also known as European honeysuckle), is a vigorous deciduous climbing vine that can grow 10 to 20 feet tall. It produces fragrant, creamy white or yellowish tubular flowers, often flushed with pink or red, that bloom from summer sporadically into fall. This variety is appreciated for its sweet scent, which is strong at night, and its ability to twine around structures.
Finally, Lonicera ciliosa, the Orange Honeysuckle (or Western Trumpet Honeysuckle), is a deciduous climber native to western North America. It showcases large, orange, trumpet-shaped flowers in dense terminal clusters from late spring to mid-summer, followed by translucent orange-red berries. This vine can reach lengths of 10 to 20 feet and is well-suited to gardens in its native range, tolerating various light and moisture conditions.
Cultivating Non-Invasive Honeysuckle
Successful cultivation of non-invasive honeysuckle varieties begins with selecting an optimal planting location. Most honeysuckles prefer full sun for abundant flowering, though some tolerate partial shade. Well-drained soil is important; amending heavy clay soils with compost improves drainage and nutrient availability.
Watering needs are moderate; honeysuckles require consistent moisture, particularly during establishment. Once established, many varieties exhibit some drought tolerance.
Pruning is performed after flowering to maintain shape, control size, and encourage new blooms. For climbing varieties, a sturdy support structure like a trellis, arbor, or fence is necessary for their twining growth.
Benefits of Choosing Non-Invasive Honeysuckle
Selecting non-invasive honeysuckle varieties offers significant ecological advantages for gardens and their surrounding environments.
These plants serve as food sources, providing nectar for pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Their tubular flowers are especially adapted for hummingbirds. Berries produced by many non-invasive honeysuckles also feed various bird species and small mammals, contributing to a diverse wildlife diet.
The dense foliage and twining growth of native honeysuckle vines offer cover and nesting sites for birds and small animals, enhancing garden biodiversity.
Choosing these options supports local ecosystems and contributes to wildlife health and resilience. This creates a vibrant garden benefiting both human enjoyment and the natural world.