University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository Biology Faculty Publications Biology 2014 2014 Virginia Wildflower of the Year: Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens W. John Hayden University of Richmond, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.richmond.edu/biology-faculty-publications Part of the Botany Commons, and the Plant Biology Commons Recommended Citation W. John Hayden. 2014 Virginia Wildflower of the Year: Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. Virginia Native Plant Society, 2014. This Brochure is brought to you for free and open access by the Biology at UR Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of UR Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. by the combination of climbing habit, glau- Lonicera sempervirens cous evergreen leaves, terminal flower clus- ters, and red tubular corollas with nearly The flashy red flowers of coral equal-sized lobes. The genus Lonicera is clas- honeysuckle beckon humming- sified in Caprifoliaceae along with other fa- miliar shrubs such as Diervilla (bush honey- birds to their sweet nectar. suckle) and Symphoricarpos (coralberry). oral honeysuckle is a twining woody Cvine, usually climbing on other vegeta- . H u m a n U s e s tion but sometimes trailing along the ground; ative American traditions include sev- older stems have papery-brown exfoliating Neral uses for coral honeysuckle (men- bark. Leaves are opposite and simple, but tioned here for historical rather than prescrip- highly variable on a single plant; early-sea- tive purposes). Leaves, either dried and son leaves are linear and straplike whereas smoked or steeped in warm water as a tea, later-developing leaves are oblong to ellip- were used to treat asthma, sore throats, and tic or obovate, 3-8 cm long, with acute to coughs. Chewed leaves applied to bee stings rounded apices, cuneate to rounded bases, alleviate swelling. Berries will induce nau- and entire margins, usually glabrous on both sea or vomiting in humans. surfaces but sometimes minutely hairy be- low, green above, and glaucous-white below; spring, sporadically thereafter. Minute bracts . I n t h e W i l d petiole length varies with position on the and calyx lobes are found at the base of each onicera sempervirens inhabits a va- stem—leaves of lower nodes may have peti- flower; corollas are tubular, 2-5 cm long, with riety of forests and successional habitats. oles up to 1 cm long, whereas leaves of up- L five nearly equal-sized lobes, red externally Coral honeysuckle is widely known for its per nodes can be sessile and directly below and frequently yellow internally (but some- ability to attract butterflies and humming- the flowers often confluent/perfoliate. Of- times all red, orange, or yellow); five yellow birds. In fact, the combination of its bright- ten some leaves persist all winter long, but anthers are borne near the corolla throat (ei- red tubular flowers with abundant nectar and the degree of winter leaf retention varies ther slightly included or partly exserted); the little floral odor typifies the usual pattern with latitude and severity of winter. The in- globose stigma projects slightly beyond the for hummingbird-pollinated species. The florescence consists of 1-4 whorls of sessile anthers. The inferior ovary matures as a red bright-red fruits are also attractive to birds; flowers borne at stem tips; flowers are pro- or orange berry about 5 mm in diameter. consumption by Quail, Purple finches, Gold- duced profusely from early spring to mid- The genus Lonicera commemorates, in finches, Hermit Thrushes, and American Latinized form, Adam Lonitzer, a 16th-century Robins has been documented. Further, the German herbalist; sempervirens means ever- plant is host to larvae of spring azure green. There are about 180 species of Lonicera butterflies and snowberry (honeysuckles), found mostly in temperate re- clearwing moths. gions of the northern hemisphere. Nine spe- cies of Lonicera can be found growing wild in Virginia; only three of these, including the coral honeysuckle, are native, while the other six are exotic escapes from cultivation, including Coral honey- the notoriously invasive Japanese honeysuckle suckle (L. japonica) and Amur honeysuckle (L. leaves maackii). Coral honeysuckle is easily distin- and berries guished from other honeysuckles in Virginia . W h e r e t o S e e i t n Virginia, coral honeysuckle is most fre- Coral Iquently encountered in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, less frequently in the Moun- tains. Lonicera sempervirens is native from Honeysuckle Connecticut and New York to Florida, and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. It has spread, apparently from cultivation, in sev- Lonicera eral states from Michigan to Missouri and Iowa, also in northern New England. sempervirens Lonicera sempervirens . I n t h e G a r d e n oral honeysuckle is an excellent garden Courtesy Virginia Botanical Associates, Digital Atlas of Cplant. It prefers well-drained acid or the Virginia Flora, vaplantatlas.org nearly neutral soil. Full sun with a support- ing structure such as a fence or trellis will . C o n s e r v a t i o n yield the best floral display; the plant can he Conservation status of Lonicera grow in shade, but fewer flowers will be Tsempervirens is Secure, although indi- seen. It tolerates clay, deer, and proximity to vidual populations may be threatened by walnuts. If needed, pruning should follow the habitat alteration. main flush of spring flowers, but care should Gardeners should not collect coral honeysuckle be taken not to remove budded yet-to-flower in the wild and should be certain that all native stems. It is easily propagated by softwood plants purchased for home gardens have been cuttings taken in late spring or summer. To nursery-propagated, not wild-collected. For a propagate by seed, fruit pulp should be re- list of retail sources of nursery-propagated plants moved, and the seeds cold stratified for three and responsibly collected seeds, visit months. Several named cultivars exist, includ- www.vnps.org; send an SASE to the Virginia Na- 2014 Virginia ing ‘John Clayton,’ a yellow-flowered form tive Plant Society, Blandy Experimental Farm, honoring the colonial-era botanist. These 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Unit 2, Boyce, VA 22620; Wildflower plants were discovered on the grounds of e-mail [email protected]; or call 540-837-1600. To see and learn more about interesting species the Abingdon Episcopal Church in of plants native to Virginia, visit www.vnps.org Gloucester County. and contact your local chapter of VNPS (details of the Year on website) for the times and dates of programs and wildflower walks near you. Text and photos W. John Hayden Illustration Nicky Staunton Layout Nancy Sorrells.