# Honeysuckle (*Lonicera*) Honeysuckles are sweet-smelling flowers that grow on vines. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds with their nectar. Some honeysuckles have berries that birds like to eat. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forests, Gardens - **Also known as:** Honey Suckle, Woodbine ![Honeysuckle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lonicera_ciliosa_13310.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lonicera_ciliosa_13310.JPG) ## Appearance The Honeysuckle is a delightful plant, often a climbing vine or dense shrub, known for its showy, tubular flowers. These blossoms typically appear in clusters, showcasing colors from creamy white and yellow to vibrant pinks and oranges, often fading as they age. Its unique trumpet-like shape and sometimes contrasting colored berries make it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Lonicera ## Interesting facts - Its amazing scent can travel far, filling entire gardens with its sweet perfume! - Many kinds of birds love to build their cozy nests hidden in honeysuckle vines. - Some honeysuckles can climb as high as a two-story building! - The sweet nectar inside honeysuckle flowers tastes just like honey! ## Special abilities - **Climbing Champion:** Honeysuckle can twine its stems tightly around other plants or structures, helping it climb high to reach sunlight. - **Nectar Beacon:** Honeysuckle has super fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that release a sweet scent, guiding bees and hummingbirds to its yummy nectar. - **Berry Bonanza:** Honeysuckle produces bright red or black berries that, while not for humans, provide a vital food source for many birds. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-900 cm - **Spread:** 50-500 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** [Two-spotted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/two-spotted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus bimaculatus*) — forages for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — consumes the plant's berries - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — drinks nectar from tubular flowers ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Enjoy the beauty of honeysuckles from a safe distance and avoid eating any part of the plant. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Honeysuckle? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Honeysuckle? 100-900 cm ### How wide does Honeysuckle spread? 50-500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Honeysuckle? 2-5 cm ### When does Honeysuckle bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Honeysuckle edible? No ### Is Honeysuckle toxic? Mild ### What is Honeysuckle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Reeds Gap State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reeds-gap-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park ## 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: [Honeysuckle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/honeysuckle)