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(Lonicera utahensis)
Utah Honeysuckle (Lonicera utahensis)
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Alison Northup
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Alison Northup
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Alison Northup | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Alison Northup | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2019-07-17T14:01:31-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lonicera utahensis, commonly known as Utah Honeysuckle, is a deciduous shrub native to the mountainous regions of the Western United States and British Columbia, particularly in the understory of coniferous forests and along streambanks. It typically grows 1 to 2 meters tall with slender, spreading branches and can form clumps. The pairs of tubular flowers, borne on peduncles up to 15 centimeters long, are yellow or yellowish-white and bloom in late spring to early summer. The flowers are modest in size, 1 to 2 centimeters long, but are attractive to pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. The fruit is a bright red berry, nearly 1 centimeter wide, which becomes ripe in late summer and is an important food source for wildlife, including birds and bears.
Utah Honeysuckle is valued for its wildlife-friendly attributes and its ability to thrive in shaded conditions, making it suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and as an understory plant in larger landscapes. It prefers full to partial shade, requires ample moisture, and grows best in soils with medium drainage. While it is not commonly used in urban settings, its resilience in shaded environments and the ornamental quality of its berries make it a potential candidate for shaded residential gardens. Gardeners should note that while it is not aggressive, it can spread through suckering, potentially forming dense thickets.CC BY-SA 4.0
Utah Honeysuckle is valued for its wildlife-friendly attributes and its ability to thrive in shaded conditions, making it suitable for woodland gardens, naturalized areas, and as an understory plant in larger landscapes. It prefers full to partial shade, requires ample moisture, and grows best in soils with medium drainage. While it is not commonly used in urban settings, its resilience in shaded environments and the ornamental quality of its berries make it a potential candidate for shaded residential gardens. Gardeners should note that while it is not aggressive, it can spread through suckering, potentially forming dense thickets.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 8-10 feet
- Width: 6-8 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: White, Yellow
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade
- Water: High
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden
Natural Habitat
native to the mountainous regions of the Western United States and British Columbia, particularly in the understory of coniferous forests and along streambanks
Other Names
Common Names: Red Twinberry, Fly Honeysuckle
Scientific Names: , Lonicera utahensis, Lonicera ebractulata, Lonicera utahensis f. ebractulata, Caprifolium utahense, Xylosteon ebractulatum, Xylosteon utahensis,
GBIF Accepted Name: Lonicera utahensis S.Watson