Lonicera hispidula
“California Honeysuckle”

flr photo: Walter Seigmund berries photo: Pete Veilleux

I’m always charmed to see this pretty Honeysuckle blooming when I’m out on a hike. The 3-4’ cluster of pink flowers are so cheery at a time when a lot of California natives are just waiting out the dry season. Blooming through Summer, the flowers are much appreciated by hummingbirds. Later followed by 1/4” jewel-like red berries, also savored by birds. The berries are also edible to humans too, but tend to be bitter. L. hispidula grows as a climbing deciduous vine which maybe isn’t the best choice for a trellis but looks wonderful twining through a supporting shrub. Growing to 6’ tall & wide, it has softly hairy blue-green leaves that occasionally fuse to form a funny oval leaf that the stem grows through the middle of. Found in oak woodlands from California through Washington, L. hispidula is drought & clay tolerant. The hollow stems of mature branches were used by the Pomo tribe as smoking pipes. 

Kelly Kilpatrick
Horticulturalist