Mountain Fly Honeysuckle: A Hidden Gem for Northern Gardens
If you’re looking for a native shrub that’s both beautiful and beneficial to wildlife, let me introduce you to mountain fly honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa). This charming little shrub might not be as flashy as some garden favorites, but it’s got plenty of personality and purpose in the right setting.
What Makes Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Special?
Mountain fly honeysuckle is a perennial, multi-stemmed woody shrub that typically stays modest in size, usually reaching less than 13-16 feet in height, though most specimens remain much smaller. What sets this native beauty apart are its delicate, paired yellowish-white tubular flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer, followed by distinctive red berries that appear in matching pairs—like nature’s own little earrings!
Where Does It Call Home?
This hardy native has quite an impressive range across northern North America. You’ll find mountain fly honeysuckle naturally growing throughout much of Canada, including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Labrador, and Newfoundland. In the United States, it thrives in northern states like Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, with some populations in Connecticut.
Why Your Garden (and Local Wildlife) Will Love It
Here’s where mountain fly honeysuckle really shines—it’s a pollinator magnet! Those tubular flowers are perfectly designed to attract:
- Native bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
The berries that follow aren’t just decorative—they provide important food for birds and other wildlife throughout the summer and fall.
Perfect Garden Spots
Mountain fly honeysuckle is happiest in:
- Woodland gardens where it can play the understory role
- Native plant gardens alongside other regional favorites
- Naturalized landscapes that mimic wild settings
- Rain gardens, thanks to its wetland tolerance
Growing Conditions and Care
One of the best things about mountain fly honeysuckle is that it’s relatively low-maintenance once established. Here’s what it prefers:
Climate: This cold-hardy shrub thrives in USDA hardiness zones 2-6, making it perfect for northern gardeners who sometimes struggle to find reliable shrubs.
Light: Adaptable to both partial shade and full sun, though it appreciates some protection in hotter climates.
Soil and Water: As a facultative wetland plant, mountain fly honeysuckle usually occurs in wetlands but can adapt to non-wetland conditions. It prefers moist, well-drained soils and appreciates consistent moisture, especially during establishment.
Planting and Care Tips
Getting your mountain fly honeysuckle off to a good start is straightforward:
- Plant in spring or early fall when temperatures are cooler
- Choose a location with morning sun and afternoon shade in warmer areas
- Keep soil consistently moist during the first growing season
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Minimal pruning needed—just remove dead or damaged branches
Is Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Right for Your Garden?
If you’re gardening in the northern United States or Canada and want to support local ecosystems while adding subtle beauty to your landscape, mountain fly honeysuckle could be perfect. It’s especially valuable if you’re creating habitat for pollinators or birds, or if you have a spot that stays consistently moist.
However, if you’re looking for a showstopper with bold flowers or dramatic fall color, you might want to consider this shrub as part of a larger native plant community rather than a standalone feature.
Mountain fly honeysuckle proves that sometimes the most valuable garden plants are the ones that work quietly behind the scenes, supporting the web of life while adding their own quiet charm to the landscape.
