Lonicera sempervirens or Coral Honeysuckle can sometimes be called Trumpet Honeysuckle and it is native to Tennessee. It is a nice semi-evergreen vine that is an addition to a butterfly, native, or pollinator garden, and serves as a great replacement for other, non-native, flowering vines. It can add a vertical presence to the garden. Coral Honeysuckle is host to the Hummingbird Clearwing moth, Spring Azure butterfly, Snowberry Clearwing Moth, Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, and others. Hummingbirds are frequent visitors as well! Care Trumpet honeysuckle grows in medium moisture, well-drained, neutral to acidic soils in full sun. It will grow in some shade, but best flowering is in full sun. It likes humus-rich soils. It flowers on new growth, so avoid pruning until after flowering. High nitrogen fertilizer will produce foliage at the expense of flowers. Full sun, Partial sun. Best grown in zones 6-11. Growth Habit This is a twining vine that can reach 10 to 20 feet tall. It needs a support structure and thus is an excellent choice for growing up a trellis, arbor or fence. However, it can also be allowed to sprawl as a ground cover. Trumpet honeysuckle flowers in mid-spring, and the non-fragrant blooms attract hummingbirds, who are the pollinators of this species. Toxicity While not highly poisonous, ingestion of leaves, flowers, or berries can cause gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The berries are generally considered the most toxic part of the plant. While hungry deer may nibble on new growth or flowers occasionally, they typically avoid it in favor of more palatable plants, making it a good choice for deer-prone areas.
