honeysuckle

American  

[huhn-ee-suhk-uhl] / ˈhʌn iˌsʌk əl /

noun

1. any of numerous North American and Eurasian shrubs or twining vines of the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae), many species of which are hardy climbers known for their highly fragrant tubular flowers, especially those of genus Lonicera.

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honeysuckle British  

/ ˈhʌnɪˌsʌkəl /

noun

1. any temperate caprifoliaceous shrub or vine of the genus Lonicera: cultivated for their fragrant white, yellow, or pink tubular flowers

2. any of several similar plants

3. any of various Australian trees or shrubs of the genus Banksia, having flowers in dense spikes: family Proteaceae

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Usage

What is honeysuckle? Honeysuckle is a climbing or upright shrub with fragrant white, yellow, pink, or red tubular flowers. This flower can also be called a honeysuckle. They are known for having a sweet drop of nectar that you can get by pulling the stamen out of the base of the flower blossom. However, other parts of the plant can be toxic if ingested. There are many different species of honeysuckle, including Diervilla lonicera and Lonicera periclymenum. Any species in the genus Lornicera can be called honeysuckle. Names for some varieties of honeysuckle include woodbine and common honeysuckle. The honeysuckle is one of the June birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). Example: The kids made a bouquet of wild honeysuckle flowers that they found in the woods.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• honeysuckled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of honeysuckle

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English honisoukel, equivalent to honisouke + -el; see honey, suck, -le

Example Sentences

The two motherless African-American children at the heart of “Kin,” Vernice Irene Davis and Annie Kay Henderson, who grow up as “cradle friends” in Honeysuckle, La., are easy to feel for.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Henry's win with Honeysuckle, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, in the mare's final race at the Cheltenham Festival last month sparked emotional scenes.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2023

Blackmore and De Bromhead took the Mares' Hurdle with Honeysuckle on Tuesday, six months after the trainer's son Jack died in a riding accident.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2023

De Bromhead and Blackmore will hope Honeysuckle, who has won 16 of her 18 races, can claim her third Festival triumph on Tuesday.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2023

“So you are going to show up!” his voice took off in one of its flights, “and you brought me something to eat from down South, didn’t you? Honeysuckle and molasses or something like that?”

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles