Grape honeysuckle is a sprawling, deciduous, perennial shrub or weak climber. It is a member of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) and is native to the midwestern USA and eastern China, an improbable disjunction that may represent two similar species. The species epithet is Latin for “reticulate,” which describes the net-like patter of venation in the leaves. Grape honeysuckle will grow in full sun to partial shade in a variety of moist to dry soils with good drainage. It flowers more profusely in full sun, on moist soil. Pruning, if needed, should commence after flowering. This species blooms on old wood. There are selections of grape honeysuckle that have very glaucous foliage, and others that have green leaves. The flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Use grape honeysuckle as a specimen or accent in an informal cottage garden or children’s garden. It can be grown in a container. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known insect or disease problems. Powdery mildew may occur. Deer tend to avoid this plant. 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.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | 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
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Ascending; Mounding; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Funnel
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Yellow, funnel-shaped flowers are borne in tight clusters at the tips of branches. The corolla lobes are recurved. The stamens are exserted.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The berries, borne in clusters above conjoined opposite leaves, are showy.