Lonicera conjugialis
Double honeysuckle
(c) David Anderson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lonicera conjugialis (Double honeysuckle) is a native California shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, recognized by key features: dark red flowers, long peduncles, highly fused fruits.
Double honeysuckle is a California native shrub found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau in streambanks, moist conifer forests, and open rocky slopes at elevations of 140 to 3,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces dark red flowers in paired arrangements with strongly two-lipped corollas 4 to 7 millimeters long. Growing with erect, slender stems 60 to 180 centimeters tall that are lightly downy, it develops a delicate branching structure. Its leaves are elliptic to round, 2 to 8 centimeters long with bases that taper and rounded to pointed tips. The fruit consists of bright red, translucent paired berries 6 to 8 millimeters long that are fused together for more than half their length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 11 sympatric species; key features: dark red flowers, long peduncles, highly fused fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, moist places in conifer forest, open rocky slopes, talus
Elevation: 140-3300 m
California counties: Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, El Dorado, Nevada, Tuolumne, Placer, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Lassen, Sierra, Mariposa, Butte, Shasta, Modoc, Madera, Amador, Alpine, Del Norte, Plumas, Tehama, Glenn, Trinity, Calaveras, San Bernardino, Mono
Outside California: to Washington, western Nevada
Bloom period
Lonicera conjugialis blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Symphoricarpos: Lonicera flowers are tubular and swollen on one side; Symphoricarpos has symmetrical bell-shaped flowers and white berries.; vs Rhamnus: Lonicera has showy tubular two-lipped flowers; Rhamnus has tiny inconspicuous greenish flowers with 4-5 separate petals.; vs Ceanothus: Lonicera has large tubular flowers; Ceanothus has tiny flowers in dense showy clusters.; vs Quercus: Lonicera has tubular flowers and berries; Quercus has catkins and produces acorns.; vs Vaccinium: Lonicera flowers are tubular and two-lipped; Vaccinium has symmetrical urn-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lonicera conjugialis native to California?
Yes. Lonicera conjugialis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lonicera conjugialis bloom?
Lonicera conjugialis blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Lonicera conjugialis grow?
Lonicera conjugialis occurs in Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, El Dorado, Nevada, Tuolumne, Placer, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of 140-3300 m.
What plant family does Lonicera conjugialis belong to?
Lonicera conjugialis is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Lonicera.
What habitat does Lonicera conjugialis grow in?
Lonicera conjugialis grows in Streambanks, moist places in conifer forest, open rocky slopes, talus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.