# Coral Honeysuckle (*lonicera sempervirens*) Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), also known as trumpet honeysuckle, is a stunning evergreen to semi-evergreen woody vine native to the eastern United States. Celebrated for its breathtaking clusters of narrow, tubular red-and-yellow flowers, this vigorous climber is a favorite of gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Unlike its highly invasive relative, the Japanese honeysuckle, Coral Honeysuckle is non-invasive and plays a vital role in supporting local ecosystems. It climbs gracefully by twining its stems around supports, draping fences, trellises, and native shrubs in vibrant color from spring through autumn. Beyond its ornamental charm, Coral Honeysuckle is an ecological powerhouse. It serves as a major nectar source for migrating hummingbirds and a larval host for several beautiful moth species. Its glossy, dark green leaves are paired or fused around the stem, providing excellent structure. Towards the end of the season, the vibrant flowers transition into bright red berries that sustain songbirds through the autumn and winter months. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Found in open woodlands, pine flatwoods, forest edges, clearings, and along roadsides and fencerows. ![Coral Honeysuckle](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/7186681/medium.jpg) Photo: Meghan Cassidy, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/7186681) ## Appearance This woody climbing vine features slender, twining stems and pairs of opposite, oval-shaped leaves that are glossy green on top and glaucous blue-green underneath. The most distinctive foliage feature is the uppermost pair of leaves, which are fused together around the stem to form a single, circular disc. The striking tubular flowers grow in whorled clusters of four to six, showcasing a bright coral-red exterior and a contrasting yellow interior. As the flowers fade, they are replaced by small, shiny, translucent red berries that cluster tightly together. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Lonicera ## Interesting facts - Scentless by Design: Unlike the highly fragrant, invasive Japanese honeysuckle, native Coral Honeysuckle flowers have almost no scent because hummingbirds, their primary pollinators, hunt by sight rather than smell. - The Trumpet Name: It is frequently called the trumpet honeysuckle due to the elongated, narrow trumpet shape of its bright red-orange blossoms. - Wildlife Lifesaver: During late summer and autumn, its berries provide a critical, moisture-rich energy source for songbirds preparing for migration. ## Special abilities - **Hummingbird Magnetism:** Features bright red, scentless, tubular flowers designed perfectly for the long bills of hummingbirds, providing abundant high-energy nectar. - **Stem Fusion:** The upper leaves fuse into a single disc, structurally reinforcing the stem to support heavy flower clusters and acting as a barrier to crawling insect pests. - **Gentle Twining:** Climbs without damaging host plants by winding its slender, flexible woody stems around supports rather than using aggressive clinging roots or tendrils. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 300+ cm - **Lifespan:** 10+ years ## Diet & Feeding As a photoautotrophic plant, Coral Honeysuckle synthesizes its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through the process of photosynthesis. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon Dioxide, Soil Nutrients - **Foraging Method:** Photosynthesis ## Ecological connections - **Mutualism:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Pollinates the flowers while feeding on the rich nectar. - **Host plant:** [Snowberry Clearwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowberry-clearwing) (*Hemaris diffinis*) — Uses the plant as a host, with caterpillars feeding on the foliage. - **Eaten by:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — Feeds on the ripe red berries during autumn and winter, dispersing the seeds. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Coral Honeysuckle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Coral Honeysuckle? 300+ cm ### How long does Coral Honeysuckle live? 10+ years ### What does Coral Honeysuckle eat? As a photoautotrophic plant, Coral Honeysuckle synthesizes its own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water through the process of photosynthesis. ### Where is Coral Honeysuckle usually found? Found in open woodlands, pine flatwoods, forest edges, clearings, and along roadsides and fencerows. ### How does Coral Honeysuckle hunt? Photosynthesis ## Where to spot - [Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-division-of-the-pennsylvania-canal) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Glen Echo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-echo-park) — Maryland, US · National Park - [Old Fessenden Academy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/old-fessenden-academy-historic-district) — Florida, US · Campus - [Rugby](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rugby) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Coral Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/coral-honeysuckle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Coral Honeysuckle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral-honeysuckle)