Coral honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a wonderful native vine for beautifying fences and attracting wildlife. After displaying a profusion of tubular, red flowers with yellow throats early in the season, coral honeysuckle continues to bloom for much of the year. The flowers attract hummingbirds, hummingbird-like moths, butterflies, bumblebees, and other pollinators. The attractive bright-red, berry-like fruits that follow the blooms entice numerous birds. Older vines have papery, straw-colored exfoliating bark. The paired semi-evergreen leaves feed the caterpillars of spring azure butterflies and snowberry clearwing moths. This twining vine performs best in full sun and dry soil on a fence, trellis, or arbor. At Sopchoppy Depot Park, coral honeysuckle adorns the wrought iron fence at the park entrance and along Rose Street.
