| Monday Melange: Trumpet Honeysuckle |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Monday, 19 July 2010 | |||
 Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a deciduous vine native to the eastern, central, and southern US, ranging from Maine to Florida and across to Texas and Missouri. Trumpet honeysuckle is a member of the honeysuckle plant family (Caprifoliaceae) family and is hardy between USDA zones 4 and 9, but will thrive in zone 3 if planted in a sheltered area. A fast growing vine that grows 10 to 12 feet high with a spread of 3 to 4 feet, trumpet honeysuckle has beautiful scarlet-orange flowers with yellow interiors that resemble trumpets making them an ideal food source for hummingbirds with their long beaks. Trumpet honeysuckle blooms in May and June on the previous year’s growth, and often continues blooming throughout the summer months. The deep red berries appear in September and attract birds but are poisonous to humans. The foliage is blue-green in color.  Because trumpet honeysuckle is a twining vine it needs a support structure such as a trellis, fence, or arbor on which to grow. It prefers moist soil and full sunlight but will do well in partial sunlight as well. Trumpet honeysuckle is propagated by seed or cutting. Powder mildew may be a problem but is alleviated by spraying with a baking soda and water solution. Trumpet honeysuckle is listed as endangered in Maine. Photo sources: www.mobot.org and www.delawarewildlowers.org |
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