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Lonicera xylosteum

fly honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–7

Overview

Lonicera xylosteum is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family, growing 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall and nearly as wide, with arching branches forming a dense, rounded crown. The opposite leaves are oval, 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, grey-green and softly downy on both sides. In late spring it bears paired, two-lipped flowers in the leaf axils, creamy white aging to pale yellow, each about 0.4-0.5 inch (10-12 mm) long. These are followed by pairs of rounded, translucent red berries that ripen in mid to late summer. Birds eat the berries and disperse the seed widely, which has allowed the shrub to naturalize and become invasive in parts of northeastern North America, where it crowds out native understorey plants. The berries are poisonous to people and pets, causing vomiting and digestive upset if eaten. The shrub tolerates shade, dry soils, chalk, and urban conditions, and was once planted for hedging and shelter. Its hollow young stems and twiggy branching give it a dense but coarse texture.

Native Range

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia east through Russia to the Altai. It is widely naturalized in northeastern North America.

Suggested Uses

Historically used for informal hedging, shelter belts, and shrubberies on poor or shaded soils. In regions where it is invasive it is no longer planted and is taken out of naturalized settings. Elsewhere it tolerates difficult urban and dry-shade sites.

How to Identify

Identify it by paired creamy to yellowish tubular flowers in the leaf axils in late spring and the matching pairs of red, often touching berries that follow. Leaves are opposite, oval, and grey-green with soft hairs on both surfaces. Young stems are hollow and finely hairy. The shrub forms a rounded bush 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) tall.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 10'

Width/Spread6' - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowers open in May and June, set in pairs where the leaves join the stem. The bloom lasts about two to three weeks. Paired red berries follow from July into late summer.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

creamy white to pale yellow

Foliage Description

grey-green, downy

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay chalk sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

5-8 years to mature size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Lonicera xylosteum grows in full sun to deep shade on most well-drained soils, including dry, chalky, and compacted urban ground. It establishes easily and needs little attention once rooted, tolerating drought and exposure. Pruning after flowering controls size and shape, since the shrub can become broad and dense. Because birds spread the seed and the plant naturalizes aggressively, fruiting shrubs are taken out of gardens near natural areas in regions where it is invasive. No feeding is needed in average soil. The berries are poisonous if eaten.

Pruning

Prune immediately after flowering, taking older stems out at the base to renew the shrub and limit its spread. Cut back hard if a smaller, denser form is wanted. Clearing the fruit before it ripens reduces self-seeding into surrounding land.

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets and humans

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Deciduous Shrubs

Lonicera xylosteum

fly honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae Europe and temperate Asia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 4–7

Overview

Native Range

Native to Europe and temperate Asia, from Britain and Scandinavia east through Russia to the Altai. It is widely naturalized in northeastern North America.

Suggested Uses

How to Identify

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 10'

Width/Spread6' - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowers open in May and June, set in pairs where the leaves join the stem. The bloom lasts about two to three weeks. Paired red berries follow from July into late summer.