Coral Honeysuckle is a native twining vine that grows up to 15′ long. It benefits from having something to climb for several years, at least until its main stems thicken enough to be self-supporting. It is a well-behaved vine, not overly aggressive or too dense and sprawling to manage. It is semi-evergreen in Ohio and evergreen in warmer climates, giving it a degree of winter interest. It is one of the longest-flowering native perennials, starting in late spring and continuing on sporadically through late fall. The 2″ long, tubular flowers are coral to scarlet colored outside, with a yellowish interior. Coral Honeysuckle is not fragrant like the invasive honeysuckles, but that doesn’t stop it from being a hummingbird magnet! The flowers are cross-pollinated by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees and produce copious amounts of nectar. The bright red berries that are formed mid to late-season are eaten by birds such as finches and robins. Hummingbird Clearwing, Snowberry Clearwing, and Spring Azure use this plant as a host for their larval stages. Sources: Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina Missouri Botanical Garden Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Illinois Wildflowers Grow Native! Salt-Tolerant Native Plants
