Leaf
Jean-François Molino, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Fly honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum L.
Also known as: European fly honeysuckle
Family: Caprifoliaceae
1 to 2 m tall, upright non-climbing shrub
Hedges, woodland edges, gardens, calcareous soils
Flowering: April – June
Full sun
Part shade
Hardy to -30°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
Unlike the climbing honeysuckles, this one grows as an upright bush and does not twine. Fly honeysuckle bears its flowers in pairs in the leaf axils on a rather bushy shrub, whereas common honeysuckle has flowers grouped in terminal heads at the ends of climbing stems.
🍃 Leaves
Deciduous, ovate, opposite, grey-green, downy
🌸 Flowers
Small cream-white flowers in pairs, turning yellow
🍎 Fruits
Two glossy red berries often fused or very close together at the base, a typical feature of the group.
🪵 Bark
Grey bark peeling in strips on old twigs
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, western Asia; common in hedges and open understorey in France, especially on calcareous soil.
🐝 Value for pollinators
Small yellowish white nectar-bearing flowers, visited by bees and bumblebees in spring.
✂️ Horticultural uses
Planted in an informal country hedge, appreciated for its hardiness.
⚠️ Possible toxicity
Red berries toxic if eaten (digestive upset), like other honeysuckles.
⚠️ Look-alike species
Fly honeysuckle
Lonicera xylosteum
Common honeysuckle
Lonicera periclymenum
Fly honeysuckle bears its flowers in pairs in the leaf axils on a rather bushy shrub, whereas common honeysuckle has flowers grouped in terminal heads at the ends of climbing stems.
🌿 Other Caprifoliaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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