Vine honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen, perennial climber native to China and the Himalayas, grown for its attractive, fragrant flowers. It is a member of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). The species epithet is Latin and means “having a sharp point,” in reference to the leaf tip. Vine honeysuckle grows best in organically rich, neutral or alkaline, medium to moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The plants will flower more profusely in full sun in cooler regions, but regular moisture is necessary to prevent the foliage from burning. In hot summer climates, these plants prefer a part-shade location where they will have some drought tolerance. This species of honeysuckle is partly or wholly deciduous in colder regions and evergreen to semi-evergreen in zones 7 and above. The flowers are fragrant. Clones are variable in color form from pure yellow to pure reddish purple or some mix of the two colors. These climbing plants can reach a length of 9 to 12 feet and will need trellis or wire supports if grown on walls or fences. This plant can grow too vigorously in ideal conditions and should be pruned as needed immediately after flowering. Flowers will appear on new growth. Vine honeysuckle is a climber that can be used as a ground cover. Grow it in Asian or children’s gardens, or in cottage or English formal gardens. It is an excellent choice for a sensory garden or butterfly/pollinator garden. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems : Vine honeysuckle may be susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spots in hot and humid summer climates. Insect pests are aphids and thrips. More information on Lonicera .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet; 6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The shiny green leave, 2.5 x .75 inches, have margins that are curved downwards. Leaves are occasionally 3-whorled; leaf blade is ovate or oblong to linear-lanceolate. Leaves are short-stalked and more or less hirsute, leathery leaves with often somewhat ciliate edges. To reduce the evaporation rate, the leaves can also get rolled in slightly.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Spike
Flower shape
Funnel; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Half inch funnel-shaped flowers are fragrant and yellow on the outside with purple on the inside petals. Flowers are paired, axillary at apices of branchlets. The corollas are bilabiate, white tinged red, becoming yellow-tinged orange or purple.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round berries, 1/6 to 1/4 inch in diameter, are blue-black and covered with purplish bloom, ovoid, seeds ellipsoid to oblong, slightly compressed.
Bark color
Light Brown
Stem detail
Mature branches become hollow.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Western China, tropical Asia and Tibet
Distribution
Introduced to England and Northern France.
Wildlife value
Birds are attracted to the berries, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the nectar.