Orange Honeysuckle Vine

Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) is a fast grower. It does not need a lot of care beyond watering and pruning to keep its growth under control. Honeysuckle has its own family–Caprifoliacea–that includes all types of honeysuckle, both vines and bushes.

The orange honeysuckle vine, which can reach a height of 23 feet, has a greyish colored bark and leaves that are a bright green with an elliptical shape. On the stem, the leaves grow opposite each other. At the end of the stalk, a leaf will form a bowl for the base of the flower cluster. Each cluster can have anywhere from a single flower to as many as 30 and when the flowers are done, red berries appear. The flowers are small and trumpet shaped. They face upward and have bright orange petals with a black center.

The orange honeysuckle vine can be grown in hardiness zones 4 to 9, all but the hottest and coldest parts of the country. It can withstand winter temperatures that get as low as -30 degrees F (zone 4) and as warm as 30 degrees F (zone 9). Orange honeysuckle is native to British Columbia in Canada and can be found in the wild throughout the northwestern part of the United States.

Orange honeysuckle needs a moist, well-drained soil and prefers full sun. It will grow in shade, but will produce fewer flowers. Orange honeysuckle can stand a short–couple of days–with dry soil, but should be watered as soon as possible to make sure that the roots do not dry out.

The orange honeysuckle vine produces nectar and will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The vine is usually planted near a fence or a trellis that it can climb freely. Orange honeysuckle can also be used as a ground cover. The fiber from the orange honeysuckle is used by the insidious people of British Columbia to make mats and capes. The vine is strong enough to be used as a support for suspension foot bridges.

Orange honeysuckle will climb on anything, including existing trees and bushes. It is a fast climber and will seek out the sun. When it gets to the top of the tree or bush, it will completely cover it in order to get the sun. Orange honeysuckle vines are susceptible to a disease called blight that can cause the leaves to become distorted and drop off.