Honeysuckle honors Adam Lonicer, a 16th-century German botanist, though he might be ambivalent about the association today given how thoroughly a few invasive members of the genus have colonized North American forests. The genus spans woody climbers and shrubs distributed across the entire Northern Hemisphere, producing tubular flowers in cream, yellow, orange, and red — often fragrant, almost always attractive to pollinators — followed by red or black berries that birds find irresistible. Most tolerate a wide range of soils and adapt to sun or part shade once established.

The critical distinction is species selection. Lonicera japonica and Lonicera maackii are aggressive invaders and should not be planted; several other non-native species sit in an intermediate gray zone. The native Lonicera sempervirens, by contrast, is a well-mannered climber whose scarlet flowers are among the most reliable hummingbird plants in eastern gardens. Climbing species work beautifully on pergolas and trellises; the shrubby types suit borders and foundation plantings. Choose carefully and this genus rewards generously.