Bracted Honeysuckle

Scientific name

Lonicera involucrata

Description

Bracted Honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub species that typically grows about 3 m tall. This species may also be known by the common names: Twinberry Honeysuckle, Black Twinberry, or Bearberry Honeysuckle. The leaves are green, oppositely arranged, oval to broadly lance shaped, 5-10 cm long, sharply pointed, and have hairy undersides. The flowers appear out of the leaf axil in June to July. These flowers are tubular shaped, yellow colored, about 10 cm long, and have gland tipped hairs. The fruits of this plant are shiny, purple to black colored berries that are produced from July to September and appear in doubles or "twins". The flowers and berries are cupped by green to purplish red colored bracts. The berries of this shrub are beneficial for wildlife species including bears, small mammals, and birds. The flowers are also used by pollinator species like butterflies and hummingbirds. While wildlife use the berries for food, they may be mildly toxic to humans and should not be consumed.

Planting conditions

Bracted Honeysuckle grows best in moist or wet soils but can still grow in upland areas. However, this shrub is not drought tolerant so should be watered well if in dry conditions. Bracted Honeysuckle prefers partial sun exposure but can also tolerate full sun or shade. This shrub can be naturally found in wet forests or forest edges, around swamps, or along river and lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Normal
  • Moist
  • Wet
• Light conditions:
  • Full sun
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Acidic
  • Basic
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 2a
  • 2b
  • 3a
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
• Plant type:
  • Shrub
• Height:
  • 3m