Smooth Honeysuckle
Lonicera dioica
Last reviewed: August 2026
Lonicera dioica is a twining vine that blooms in May and June with tubular purple pink and yellow flowers. It grows well in part sun along woodland edges, fencerows, and thickets across much of the eastern and midwestern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Smooth Honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
60"–240" H × 36"–120" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
AR, CT, GA, IA and 27 more states
Pollinators
hummingbirds, bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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Smooth honeysuckle is a native climbing vine that produces tubular yellow to reddish flowers in late spring and early summer. Unlike its invasive cousins, this North American native stays well-behaved and provides excellent wildlife habitat. The vine climbs by twining and can cover fences, trellises, or arbors with attractive oval leaves.
Growing Smooth Honeysuckle
Grow Smooth Honeysuckle in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 60 to 240 inches tall and spread 36 to 120 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Smooth Honeysuckle is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: backyard only, mid zone.
- Requires support structure to look intentional
- Can appear messy without regular pruning
- May be confused with invasive honeysuckle varieties
Wildlife value
This native honeysuckle is a magnet for hummingbirds, which are specially adapted to reach the nectar in its tubular flowers. It also attracts native bees and butterflies, and produces berries that feed songbirds.
Common questions
- When does Lonicera dioica bloom?
- Lonicera dioica generally flowers in May and June, producing clusters of tubular purple pink and yellow blossoms.
- What pollinators visit Lonicera dioica?
- The tubular flowers draw hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, which feed on nectar during the spring bloom period.
- How much sun and water does Lonicera dioica need?
- This vine does best in part sun with medium soil moisture, though it also tolerates fuller sun, some shade, and drier conditions once established.
- What is the growth habit of Lonicera dioica?
- It is a deciduous twining vine that climbs over shrubs, fences, and other supports, dying back in winter and sending up new growth each spring.
- Is Smooth Honeysuckle HOA-friendly?
- Smooth Honeysuckle is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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