Lonicera sempervirens

Author: Catherine Wallis Branch



Common Names: (Everett, 1981)

Higher Taxa: (Esposito, 1994)

Identification: A Swedish botanist and physician, Carl Linnaeus (1708-1778), first identified and recorded the species Lonicera sempervirens in the book Species Plantarum in May of 1753. The Linnaean herbarium contains the main type specimens which is under the care of the Linnaean Society of London (Stafleu et al., 1981). The locations where the specimens were collected could not be found (Branch, 1997).

Radford, Ahles, and Bell describe the species as follows, "Vine, climbing to about 5 m, or trailing, stems glabrous. Leaves partially evergreen, very variable, the lower elliptic to obovate, those subtending the inflorescence usually ovate, the last 1 or 2 pairs usually connate, 3-7 cm long, 1-4.5 cm wide, acute to rounded, entire, eglandular or less frequently stipitate-glandular ciliate, base cuneate to rounded, glaucous beneath; petioles 0-10 mm long. Peduncles 1-5 cm long, terminal on new growth, usually with 3-flowered sessile cymules, each cymule subtended by a small bract and each flower with a pair of similar bracteoles; ovaries separate. Calyx lobes obsolete to 0.3 mm long; corolla nearly actinomorphic, red, often yellow within, tube 3-5 cm long, not gibbous at base, lobes whitish to yellowish, finely beaded, raised in center, 4-8 mm long" (Radford et.al 1968).

A series of photographs is available from the herbarium at Texas A & M University.
Two useful examples are the photographs of L.sempervirens flowers and fruit courtesy of
Dr. J. R Manhart,


Image of L. sempervirens (Texas A&M, J.R. Manhart) Fruit of L. sempervirens (Texas A&M, J.R. Manhart)
Click on the images above for an enlarged view.

Geography: This species of honeysuckle is native to areas stretching from Connecticut to Nebraska (Everett, 1981). It is abundant throughout the cumberland plateau and piedmont regions of Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky (Radford et.al 1968). It spreads from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana eastward to Florida and north to Maine and Missouri (Vines, 1960).

Table I: North American Distribution of L.sempervirens

Lonicera sempervirens

AREA STATUS REFERENCES
North America:
Continental United States; Canada
Yes Huxley, Griffith, & Levy,1992
Eastern North America:
United States east of Mississippi;
Ontario and eastern Canada
Yes Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992
Southeastern United States:
AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV
Yes Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992
Southern Appalachian States:
AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV
Yes Huxley, Griffith, & Levy, 1992
Coastal Plain Widespread Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968;
Jones & Coile, 1988
Piedmont Widespread Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968;
Jones & Coile, 1988
Blue Ridge Mountains Widespread Radford, Ahles & Bell, 1968
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Yes Radford, Ahles, & Bell 1968
Ridge and Valley Yes Jones & Coile, 1988
Cumberland Plateau Yes Jones & Coile, 1988
Central Arch ? -
Georgia Widespread Jones & Coile, 1988
Clarke County, Georgia Yes Jones & Coile, 1988
Sams Farm Probably Catie Branch, Pers. Guess
Old Field Probably not Catie Branch, Pers. Guess
Wetland ? -
Wood Probably Catie Branch, Pers. Guess
1-Hectare Plot Probably Catie Branch, Pers. Guess.

Natural History: In severe climates L.sempervirens is deciduous while in milder climates it is evergreen (Everett,1981). Because of this evergreen tendency, it was named sempervirens which means "ever-living" in Latin. (Vines, 1960). Typically, flowers occur from March until July and fruits occur from August until October (Fernald, 1950). However, L.sempervirens may also bloom in late summer, as indicated by the samples collected in August in Lee County, AL. The species is cultivated for its flowers which are striking, yet unscented. The fruits appeal to a number of species of birds, including purple finches and cardinals (Vines, 1960).

How to Encounter: This species grows primarily in well-drained places, open woodlands, woodland boarders and sometimes in floodplain woodlands (Godfrey, 1981). It can commonly be found in thickets and along fence rows (Radford et al., 1968). Look for its distinct unscented coral colored blooms in the months of spring. L.sempervirens is also available from commercial nurseries, including Stacy Adams Nursery in West Point, Georgia.

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Last Updated on August 12, 1997