Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' (Coral Honeysuckle)

Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' is a showy cultivar of coral honeysuckle, a semi-evergreen to evergreen vine with blue-green leaves that occasionally encircle the stems. Although coral honeysuckle is typically very vigorous, and while 'Major Wheeler' is no exception, this cultivar has a bushier, more profusely blooming behavior. From late spring into mid-summer (and occasionally into fall if early blooms are cut back to encourage reblooming), 'Major Wheeler' honeysuckle produces bright red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. And while other cultivars can reach heights of 10-20' tall, 'Major Wheeler' typically reaches a mature size of only 6-8' tall while spreading outward up to 10 feet; an effect that is especially impressive when covered with tons and tons of profuse red blooms.

Coral honeysuckle is a favorite for planting on mailbox posts and trellises, but 'Major Wheeler' expands the plant's usual habits to work as a hedge or border, for growing along fences, and as an excellent and ecologically beneficial, specimen planting. Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' grows best in full sun to partial shade and average, medium-moist loamy soils, though it is tolerant to a number of conditions, including rocky sites as well as deer and rabbit damage.