Lonicera etrusca
Etruscan honeysuckle
(c) João Valença, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Vine · Not Native
Lonicera etrusca (Etruscan honeysuckle) is a non-native California vine in the Caprifoliaceae family, recognized by key features: very large flowers, restricted range, non-native.
Etruscan honeysuckle is a naturalized shrub found in northwestern coastal California, specifically in Del Norte County, in disturbed places at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces yellow-white flowers tinged with purple, with a delicate 3 to 5 centimeter long corolla that is strongly two-lipped. Growing as a twining shrub with glabrous herbage, it reaches 6 to 9 centimeters in height with a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves are ovate, sessile to short-petioled, with a rounded base and obtuse to rounded tip, notably featuring an upper pair of leaves fused around the stem. The plant's inflorescence forms a short, dense spike with round bracts, creating an elegant and distinctive appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features: very large flowers, restricted range, non-native
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: Oregon, native to Europe
Bloom period
Lonicera etrusca 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 etrusca native to California?
No. Lonicera etrusca is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lonicera etrusca bloom?
Lonicera etrusca blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Lonicera etrusca belong to?
Lonicera etrusca is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Lonicera.
What habitat does Lonicera etrusca grow in?
Lonicera etrusca grows in Uncommon. Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.