Woody vine to 5 m long
Stem: typically hairless.
Leaves: opposite, stalkless, deep green above, to around 5 cm long, to around 4 cm wide, narrowly oblong to broadly oval, with a waxy coating (glaucous) beneath. The uppermost pair of leaves are fused into a slightly hairy or glaucous, diamond-shaped to elliptic disk.
Flowers: in one to four whorls at branch tips, stalkless. Calyx five-toothed, minute, green. Corolla scarcely two-lipped, red or yellow outside, yellow inside, 3 - 5 cm long, narrow, trumpet-shaped, five-lobed (lobes nearly equal and much shorter than tube). Stamens five, barely exserted. Anthers yellow.
Fruit: a few-seeded berry, in clusters, red.
Similar species: Lonicera dioica and L. prolifera are similar but have strongly two-lipped corolla lobes. Lonicera x heckrottii is also similar but it is usually an upright shrub.
Flowering: April to June
Habitat and ecology: Native to parts of the Eastern and Southern United States. Cultivated and rarely escaped to woods, thickets, and roadsides.
Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native
Notes: The brilliant red flowers of this striking plant are great for attracting flying insects and hummingbirds.
Etymology: Lonicera is named after Adam Lonicer (1528-1586), a German botanist and author. Sempervirens means evergreen.
Author: The Morton Arboretum
