Lonicera japonica purpurea - Purple Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica purpurea can be striking in the garden. The Purple Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle will survive a drought but will look pretty ragged while doing so. Lonicera japonica purpurea prefers good soil, regular water and to avoid extreme heat. The purple of the leaves is accentuated by cold weather and will not be particularly dramatic in low chill gardens. The pink and yellow flowers are a great nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. Lonicera japonica purpurea readily grows 10-15 feet. The fragrant flowers come on in our area in late Spring and continue through Summer and into Fall and attract the Great Ash Sphinx moth, as well as the Gulf Frittilary, Giant Swallowtail, and Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies. Lonicera japonica purpurea will produce quite a lot of deadwood each year, and looks best if this is removed in the Winter. Purple Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle is Winter Hardy to zone 6.

Plants from the genus Lonicera featured on this site:
Lonicera ciliosa * Orange Honeysuckle, Western Trumpet Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata * Twinberry
Lonicera japonica * Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica purpurea * Purple Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata denudata * Chaparral Honeysuckle