# Utah Honeysuckle (*Lonicera utahensis*) Utah Honeysuckle is a sweet-smelling shrub that grows in the wild. It has beautiful yellow and orange flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a lovely sight in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Utah Honeysuckle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lonicera_utahensis_6356.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lonicera_utahensis_6356.JPG) ## Appearance The Utah Honeysuckle is a medium-sized shrub with opposite, oval leaves and pairs of delicate, yellowish-white to pale yellow trumpet-shaped flowers. Its striking red to orange berries develop in autumn, providing a vibrant contrast to its green foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Lonicera ## Interesting facts - Despite its sweet-smelling flowers, the berries have a surprisingly bitter taste to humans! - Indigenous peoples once used its tough, hollow stems for small, intricate craft projects. - Its bell-shaped flowers grow in distinct pairs, earning it the nickname 'twinflower' honeysuckle! - This hardy shrub is a favorite snack for deer and elk, especially during harsh winters! ## Special abilities - **Nectar Beacon:** Utah Honeysuckle's tubular flowers produce sweet nectar to attract hummingbirds and bees for efficient pollination. - **Resilient Roots:** This plant has a strong root system helping it survive dry, rocky soils by finding and storing water. - **Berry Broadcast:** Its bright red berries are eaten by birds, which then scatter the seeds, helping the plant spread. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Rufous Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rufous-hummingbird) (*Selasphorus rufus*) — Sips nectar from the tubular flowers. - **Pollinates:** Western Bumblebee (*Bombus occidentalis*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on its leaves and twigs, especially in winter. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Consumes the red berries, helping to disperse seeds. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [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. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch the berries, as they may not be safe to eat. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Utah 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 tall is Utah Honeysuckle? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Utah Honeysuckle spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Utah Honeysuckle? 1-2 cm ### When does Utah Honeysuckle bloom? Spring-early summer ### Is Utah Honeysuckle edible? No ### Is Utah Honeysuckle toxic? Mild ### What is Utah Honeysuckle's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [AMK Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/amk-ranch) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Geraldine Lucas Homestead-Fabian Place Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/geraldine-lucas-homestead-fabian-place-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Boat Concession Facilities](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-boat-concession-facilities) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Jenny Lake Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jenny-lake-ranger-station-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/laurance-s-rockefeller-preserve) — Wyoming, US · Nature Reserve - [Darke Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/darke-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Utah Honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/utah-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: [Utah Honeysuckle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/utah-honeysuckle)