Shrubs of the Honeysuckle Family

The honeysuckle (Lonicera) is famous for flowers that fill the warm summer air with a sweet, seductive fragrance. A low-maintenance and versatile shrub, the honeysuckle is best used as a hedge, as an accent shrub or in pots on patios or in gardens. The honeysuckle attracts a wide array of flying creatures and insects, so plant shrubs in areas where birds, bees and butterflies will not be bothersome to you and your family.

Blueleaf

A deciduous shrub that is named for it's blue-green foliage, the blueleaf honeysuckle (Lonicera korolkowii) can reach heights of 10 feet and spread up to 10 feet in width. The blueleaf produces pink flowers in the spring, followed by red berries during the mid to late summer months. The blueleaf is a little more difficult to establish than most other honeysuckles. Plant blueleaf shrubs in dappled to full-sun exposure and in well-drained soil. Blueleaf shrubs are drought tolerant but thrive when watered regularly. The flower of the blueleaf is not fragrant, but it still attracts hummingbirds and bees. Blueleaf honeysuckle shrubs thrive in USDA zones 4 through 9 and are best used as hedges and as a background shrub.

Fly Honeysuckle

A small to mid-sized deciduous shrub, the fly honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum) is urban tolerant and adapts well to unfavorable growing conditions. Foliage is a gray-green to blue-green and flowers are a creamy white color. The fly honeysuckle shrub blooms in early May and produces a red berry during the summer months. Plant your fly honeysuckle in areas of full sun to partial shade and in moist but well-drained soil. The fly honeysuckle reaches heights up to 8 feet and is usually about 8 feet wide, but smaller versions of the shrub are common. Best grown in USDA zones 4 through 6, the fly honeysuckle shrub is used most often as an informal hedge in low-maintenance areas.

Freedom Honeysuckle

The medium-to-tall freedom honeysuckle shrub (Lonicera x "freedom") is recommended for USDA zone 4. The freedom honeysuckle can reach heights of 9 feet and may spread between 6 to 9 feet. Leaves of the freedom honeysuckle are a dull, blue green color. Flowers are white with a hint of pink and bloom in May. The berries of the freedom honeysuckle are red and are found on the shrub in June and July. Freedom honeysuckle shrubs thrive in full sunlight and in well-drained soil conditions and require regular watering. These medium-sized shrubs are often used as hedges and as windbreaks on farmsteads.

Arnold Red Honeysuckle

A bushy, finely branched shrub, the Arnold red honeysuckle shrub (Lonicera x tatarica) can reach heights up to 10 feet. Leaves are medium green to blue-green in color and the Arnold honeysuckle produces a deep red display of flowers in the early days of May. The Arnold red is a deciduous shrub that thrives in USDA zones 3 through 8. Red or orange berries appear on the Arnold red honeysuckle shrub during early to mid-summer. Plant the Arnold red honeysuckle in well-drained soil and in full to partially sunny sports of your yard or garden. Water the shrubs on a regular basis. The Arnold red honeysuckle shrub is best used as a foundation plant or a hedge.