Coral honeysuckle is native to the eastern United States, including North Carolina, and its Latin name, sempervirens, reflects its evergreen character in the warmer parts of its range. The tubular flowers are a deep coral-red outside and soft yellow within, and unlike many honeysuckles they carry no fragrance, having evolved specifically to attract hummingbirds rather than insects. It blooms in mid-spring on new growth, which means it can be pruned in late winter without sacrificing the season's flowers. Blue-green foliage provides a pleasant backdrop through the growing season.

This vine reaches 10 to 20 feet and needs a structure to climb, making it a natural choice for arbors, trellises, and fences. It can also be left to sprawl as a groundcover on slopes. Full sun brings the best flowering; soil should be neutral to slightly acidic with good drainage. High nitrogen fertilizer pushes foliage at the expense of blooms, so feed lightly if at all. Its salt tolerance extends its usefulness to coastal gardens, and its native status makes it a better choice over invasive exotics wherever a twining honeysuckle is needed.