Orange Honeysuckle (Lonerica ciliosa) is woody vine in the honeysuckle family.    The shrub can grow up to 7 m long, often supported by other shrubs.   Many thin stems are hollow in early growth.   The leaves are in opposite pairs on the stems and have a fringe of hairs.    The leaves are smooth on top and glabrous on the bottom side.    Two leaves are joined at the ends of twigs, just below the inflorescence.   A cluster of orange-red tube-like flowers, grouped – 8 -12 , at the ends of the branches.   Each tube-flower is hairy in the opening.    The flowers produce abundant pollen and are a favorite for hummingbirds and butterflies.  After flowering, small orange-red inedible berries form, each with several seeds.

In our area, orange honeysuckle can be spotted in open spots in forests, in thickets at the upper grasslands and damp areas at middle elevations, and in gullies at lower elevations.   It blooms in the May – June time period.

We have an older vine in our home garden, climbing up a trellis.    It has been a reliable ornamental vine for decades.

An album of photos taken while out on nature hikes is provided here – Orange honeysuckle (link)

A Google Photos slideshow is also embedded here:

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