Lonicera canadensis

Common Names

American Fly Honeysuckle, Canadian Fly Honeysuckle, Canada Honeysuckle, Fly Honeysuckle, Early Fly Honeysuckle, American Honeysuckle

Summary

American fly honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America, typically 2–5 ft tall with loosely branched, arching stems and brownish-gray bark. Leaves are opposite and simple, 1.5–12 cm long and 1.5–4 cm wide, light green with margins not toothed but ciliate; pale-yellow tubular flowers appear in pairs at leaf axils on one-year-old branches from April to June, followed by red paired berries in July–Sept.

Prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade; tolerates various soil types but avoids wet low areas; hardy in USDA zones 3a–7b; commonly used for woodland edge or understory plantings and naturalizing. Wildlife value includes attracting pollinators such as bees and Ruby-throated hummingbirds, with berries eaten by birds.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6 feet

Spread

4-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-7

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.1–6.5, Mildly acidic, Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

Pale yellow to yellow, sometimes with a purple tinge; yellow to cream-colored; yellowish-white

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Bright green above; paler below.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow, Orange

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds