Yellow honeysuckle is a perennial, woody vine or sprawling shrub in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) native to the central and southeastern USA. It is found in rocky soils in woods, slopes, bluffs, ledges and stream margins. The species epithet is Latin for “yellow.” It is easy to grow in full sun to partial shade, with an average level of moisture. Once established, it can take some drought. It is unfussy about soil type and tolerates rocky soils, but it will perform better on humus-rich, well-drained soils. It will climb a trellis (with a little help) or grow along the ground, or it can grow more upright and shrub-like. The flowers, which appear in spring, are bright yellow when they first open, but they darken with age, becoming orange before they fall. They are fragrant and attract a wide variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds. Yellow honeysuckle can be pruned to shape, and blossoms will appear on old growth. They are not self-fruitful, and two plants are necessary for cross-pollination. Mulch in winter to protect the roots. This is a good vine for a bird garden as the berries attract birds and small mammals. Use this vine on a trellis or fence and for screening. It will give vertical presence (with a trellis) in a perennial border. It is suitable for a native plant garden, a pollinator or butterfly garden or a cottage garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. 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; Shallow Rocky
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. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Up to 3.5 inches long, green leaves are gray-green underneath. Leaves at the tips are joined around the stem
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Head
Flower shape
Funnel; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are 1.25 inches long, occur in whorls at the ends of the stems and are distinctly 2-lipped with 5 unequal petals That are flared and reflexed back. Blooms late spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
1/4 inch round orange-red berries. Displays from August to Sept.
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
Older stems may have shredding bark
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green
Stem detail
Young stems green and turn woody with age
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern United States
Distribution
AL , AR , GA , IL , KS , KY , MO , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN
Wildlife value
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Birds eat the berries. Host to the bumblebee clearwing moth.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds