Honeysuckle is a vine found in many central Arkansas yards. Two native species are widespread over much of Arkansas, Lonicera flava and sempervirens, yellow honeysuckle and coral honeysuckle.
These plants host at least 23 species of caterpillars. One such caterpillar species is the Snowberry Clearwing Moth, which mimics the bumblebee. Hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies visit honeysuckle, its leaves are evergreen, and its berries feed the birds in winter.
Don’t confuse our native honeysuckles with the non-natives, particularly Lonicera japonica, Japanese honeysuckle, which is highly invasive and will crowd out native plants. Plant native honeysuckle and help keep our ecosystems intact.