Fauna
Plant

Coral Honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens

Also known as Trumpet Honeysuckle, Scarlet Honeysuckle, Woodbine

Coral honeysuckle twines gracefully through sunny forest margins and garden trellises, producing vibrant clusters of trumpet-shaped, crimson-to-coral flowers with bright yellow interiors. Highly favored by ruby-throated hummingbirds, these tubular blooms lack the heavy perfume of exotic honeysuckles but offer rich nectar reserves from spring into late summer. In warm southern climates, the smooth, blue-green foliage remains evergreen throughout the year, followed by glossy red autumn berries that sustain migratory birds.

ViningFloweringAttracts Hummingbirds
Coral Honeysuckle reference1 / 7
(c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Aphids
  • Snowberry Clearwing Caterpillar
ThreatsHabitat clearing, competition from invasive Japanese honeysuckle
HabitatsWoodland edges, thickets, fence rows, pine flatwoods
Life span15–30+ years
Classification
  1. OrderDipsacales
  2. FamilyCaprifoliaceae
  3. GenusLonicera
  4. SpeciesLonicera sempervirens
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Berries are mildly toxic if eaten; wild berries also have dangerous look-alikes, so never ingest.
Why it is dangerous
Leaves and berries contain mildly toxic saponins that cause vomiting and diarrhea if ingested by humans or domestic pets.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by smooth opposite leaves, with the top pair fused into a solid circular disk beneath bright red flowers.
What to do
Appreciate this native vine visually, but keep children and curious pets from nibbling on the red fruit.
Responsible observation
  • Garden Planting: Provide a sturdy trellis or fence in full sun to encourage dense flowering and healthy growth.
  • Wildlife Watching: Position vines near windows or patios to observe feeding hummingbirds from a comfortable distance.
Related species
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