At a glance
Essentials
- Distribution
- It is native to much of Europe, North Africa, Turkey and the Caucasus, reaching southern Norway, Sweden and Finland. In the British Isles, it is common and widely distributed.
- Habitat
- It grows in woods and hedgerows, where its stems climb among shrubs and trees.
Observation guide
What to look for
- 01
The stems wind around branches and other supports, forming a twining climber.
- 02
The oval, deep-green leaves appear in opposite pairs and are sessile or have a very short petiole.
- 03
Its tubular, fragrant flowers are cream-coloured when they open and turn yellow-orange, sometimes with pinkish or reddish hues.
- 04
In autumn, clusters of red berries can be seen, ripening after flowering.
Lighting, age and viewing angle can hide features. If identification affects consumption, handling or conservation, consult specialist sources.
Ecology
Description and characteristics
Lonicera periclymenum is a climbing plant in the family Caprifoliaceae. Its stems wind around branches and other supports and, as they do so, can twist the branches they encircle. The leaves are oval and deep green, arranged in opposite pairs; they may be sessile or have a very short petiole. These features, together with its twining growth, make its habit among woody vegetation recognisable.
Its flowers are borne in clusters and are trumpet-shaped. When they open, they are cream-coloured, later taking on yellow-orange hues, sometimes with a pinkish or reddish wash. They are aromatic, with a sweet fragrance that intensifies at night, especially on warm summer evenings. In the British Isles, flowering lasts from June to September. The plant is appreciated by bumblebees and attracts pollinating moths; it is also a specific resource for some butterflies, including the white admiral.
After flowering, clusters of red berries appear. They ripen in autumn or from late summer into autumn. Birds such as thrushes, warblers and bullfinches eat these fruits. The foliage and stems are also associated with other animals: dormice use the bark to build nests for their summer young, and may feed on the flowers’ nectar. Thus, the observable seasonal sequence comprises summer flowering followed by the ripening of the fruits, which provide food for several wildlife species.