Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' (Coral Honeysuckle)

'Major Wheeler' Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler')

Height, Spread: 10-20 ft, 3-6 ft

Water/Soil: Average-moist, well-drained, acidic-neutral, clay, high organic matter, loam

Light: Full sun-partial shade

Bloom: Spring-summer, burgundy-gold trumpet-shaped flowers

Native Range: Southeastern USA

Qualities: Attractive to pollinators, Host plant, Wildlife resource

Notes: Semievergreen perennial flowering vine that puts the invasive Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) to shame. It is commonly found in dry forests and roadside thickets in the wild. It is attractive to pollinators, including hummingbirds, a host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly ( Celastrina argiolus) and the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). Birds love to eat its berries and deer will eat the foliage. It is best planted near something it can climb such as arbors, railings, or fences. It could also be used as a sprawling groundcover. The 'Major Wheeler' cultivar blooms multiple times throughout the summer.