Lonicera subspicata var. denudata
Photo: parent species Lonicera subspicata · (c) mel letterman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata is a native California shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, recognized by wide-elliptic leaves <2x longer than wide, pale yellow flowers, upper leaves not fused.
Chaparral honeysuckle is a California native shrub found in northern Sierra Nevada foothills (Butte County), the Tehama region, central and southern California coastal and interior areas in chaparral slopes at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces creamy white to pale yellow flowers in compact clusters. Growing with arching to spreading branches 1 to 2 meters tall, the shrub forms dense, somewhat tangled thickets. Its leaves are distinctively wide and rounded, typically less than twice as long as they are wide, with a soft, slightly leathery texture. The shrub provides important habitat and nectar for native pollinators in California's dry chaparral ecosystems.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; key features are wide-elliptic leaves <2x longer than wide, pale yellow flowers, upper leaves not fused
Habitat and range
Habitat: Chaparral slopes
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Alameda, Ventura, Kern, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Imperial, Butte, Contra Costa, Mariposa, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Fresno, Tulare
Bloom period
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata blooms Jun-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 subspicata var. denudata native to California?
Yes. Lonicera subspicata var. denudata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lonicera subspicata var. denudata bloom?
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Lonicera subspicata var. denudata grow?
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata occurs in San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and other counties, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Lonicera subspicata var. denudata belong to?
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Lonicera.
What habitat does Lonicera subspicata var. denudata grow in?
Lonicera subspicata var. denudata grows in Chaparral slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lonicera subspicata var. subspicata — Santa barbara honeysuckle
- Lonicera tatarica — Tatarian honeysuckle
- Lonicera cauriana — Blue fly honeysuckle
- Lonicera ciliosa — Orange honeysuckle
- Lonicera conjugialis — Double honeysuckle
- Lonicera etrusca — Etruscan honeysuckle
- Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus — Snowberry
- Symphoricarpos longiflorus — Fragrant snowberry
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.