Native Michigan Honeysuckle

Shrubs, vines and herbs comprise the members of the honeysuckle family, many of which are appropriate for landscaping. In Michigan, certain types of honeysuckles grow with traits that make them suitable for your property or yard.

Types

Among the types of honeysuckle native to Michigan are the American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis), northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) and the trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Trumpet honeysuckle is a vine, while northern bush honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub, as is the American fly honeysuckle.

Features

Trumpet honeysuckle features a vine as long as 20 feet, with bluish-green leaves and large, tube-like flowers of scarlet, yellow and orange. The American fly honeysuckle has yellow flowers, while those of northern bush honeysuckle are reddish-purple to orange, shaped like bells. The foliage of this Michigan honeysuckle is dark green, turning red in the autumn.

Uses

Honeysuckles in Michigan attract both butterflies and hummingbirds. Trumpet honeysuckle covers trellises and pergolas, along with fences and arbors, notes the Missouri Botanical Garden. The shrub forms work in butterfly gardens and in shrub borders.

References

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Lonicera Canadensis
• Missouri Botanical Garden: Lonicera Sempervirens
• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Diervilla Lonicera
• "National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers:Eastern Region;" John W. Thieret, Revised 2001 (Page 459)