California Honeysuckles, Lonicera spp.

California honeysuckles are not aggressive vigorous vines like the kind you see completely engulfing chain link fences. They tend to be more like open shrubs that couldn't quite stand up on their own and needed to hold onto a few of their neighbors. You'll usually find most of them under a bush or growing up into the bush giving honeysuckle flowers to a manzanita or Ceanothus.

Lonicera interrupta from the Sierra's - grid24_12
Here is a Sierra form of Chaparral Honeysuckle, Lonicera interrupta. It has fuzzy new growth, and old growth is nearly smooth with dull green and smooth leaves.. Lonicera interrupta is an easy id. Look for the connected top leaves and yellow flowers.
Here is the interior form of Twinberry, Lonicera involucrata - grid24_12

Lonicera involucrata, Bearberry Honeysuckle

Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii, Twinberry Honeysuckle, possesses  twin berries at the end of each flower stalk, hence its name.  - grid24_12

Lonicera involucrata ledebourii, Twinberry honeysuckle.

Lonicera subspicata denudata, San Diego Honeysuckle makes a nice small groundcover. - grid24_12

Lonicera subspicata denutata, Chaparral Honeysuckle

This is a nice ground cover with yellow flowers and attractive shiny foliage. Notice the underside of the leaf is dull or white.
Lonicera subspicata can be very confusing as some of the L. denuata forms look VERY similar. This form occurs around Santa Barbara. A number of the floras have the key transposed and and L. denuata keys as L. subspicata. We have no idea what it's supposed to be like.
Lonicera subspicata denudata as it occurs in inner San Luis Obispo county. (This is new growth.)
Chaparral honeysuckle grows in San Luis Obispo county - grid24_12

Lonicera subspicata Johnstonii, Southern Honysuckle.

In the underside of the leaf is kinda yellowish. A common occurring hybrid between the species Lonicera hispidula and Lonicera denudata. Sometimes called Lonicera Johnstonii. This one has yellow/pink flowers.
Lonicera hispidula, California honeysuckle
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Edited on Feb 17, 2013. Authors:
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