Goldflame honeysuckle is a spreading, twining, deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub or vine. The hybrid formula of this artificial cross is L. caprifolium × L. etrusca × L. sempervirens . The first two species are European, but the third species is North American. The “Heckrott” commemorated by the hybrid epithet was not explained by the author. It does best in fertile, moist, well-drained soils and full sun, but is adaptable to various soils and can tolerate some drought once established. The flower display is poorer in shaded areas. Goldflame honeysuckle is intolerant of alkaline soils and needs to be planted where there is good air circulation to help prevent downy mildew. Goldflame honeysuckle can climb up to 13 feet, but it can be pruned to a 6-foot shrub, if desired. It blooms from spring to early summer and is somewhat fragrant, with attractive leaves, but rarely produces fruits. It grows well on arbors, fences, and around light and mailbox poles, but its growth habit is typically not dense enough to form a complete screen. It is a good candidate for pollinator, children’s, or cottage gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant has no serious pest or disease problems but can be susceptible to powdery mildew and may be troubled by aphids. It is listed as invasive in Illinois but has not been reported as invasive elsewhere. 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; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 13 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous; Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Connate leaves (encircling stem) under terminal flower clusters are opposite, simple, oblong or elliptic, bluntly acute, glabrous, lustrous dark blue-green above and glaucous below. Juvenile leaves are purplish with a reddish tinge and fused at the base. Leaves are 1- 2.5 inches long by .75-1.75 inches wide and grow on reddish stems.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Insignificant
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Spike; Umbel
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The 1.5-inch, weakly fragrant, tubular flowers are pinkish-purple on the outside and open to show a yellow corolla and bloom in terminal whorls from spring to fall. They are carmine in bud and become pink as the flowers open. Flowers are 5-lobed, small, obtuse, and yellow. The inflorescence is terminal spikes to subpanicles and abundantly flowered. Flowers are borne in whorls and bracts are large, leaf-like, and fused to form a disk at the base of the peduncle.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are red berries that grow up to ¼-inch in size.
Bark color
Red/Burgundy
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Reddish stems are glabrous and thin.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Berries are edible by birds.