Lonicera henryi Hemsl.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Lonicera henryi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/lonicera/lonicera-henryi/). Accessed 2026-01-18.

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Genus

Lonicera

Other taxa in genus

Glossary

glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
variety: (var.) Taxonomic rank (varietas) grouping variants of a species with relatively minor differentiation in a few characters but occurring as recognisable populations. Often loosely used for rare minor variants more usefully ranked as forms.

References

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Lonicera henryi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/lonicera/lonicera-henryi/). Accessed 2026-01-18.

Lonicera henryi (private garden, York, North Yorkshire, June 2022). Image John Grimshaw.

Editorial Note

Under Lonicera giraldii, L. henryi and L. alseuosmoides, Bean discussed three species now treated as synonyms of L. acuminata (POWO 23/6/2025), a highly variable species in need of further study (Yang et al. 2011). Material in cultivation under these names appears to be quite distinct, however, so for the time being we retain Bean’s treatments under their original names, pending a full, revised treatment of Lonicera to be undertaken when funds permit. If you would like to sponsor the account of this genus please write to editor@treesandshrubsonline.org

An evergreen or semi-deciduous climber with slender more or less densely strigose shoots. Leaves mostly oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, 13⁄4 to 4 in. long, 1⁄2 to 15⁄8 in. wide, abruptly to gradually acuminate at the apex, rounded or cordate at the base, dark green above, paler and rather glossy beneath, downy only on the midrib and margins, sometimes almost glabrous; stalk 1⁄8 to 1⁄2 in. long. Flowers purplish red, produced during June at the end of the shoot in a cluster 2 or 3 in. across, each stalk twin-flowered. Corolla two-lipped, 3⁄4 in. across, the lips much reflexed, the tube 1⁄2 to almost 3⁄4 in. long, hairy within, glabrous outside. Stamens slightly downy. Style hairy, protruded 1⁄2 in. beyond the corolla. Bracts awl-shaped, about 1⁄4 in. long. Fruits blackish purple. Bot. Mag., t. 8375.

Native of W. China; introduced by Wilson in 1908 and later sent by Forrest. It is closely allied to the more ornamental L. alseuosmoides, which has narrower leaves and glabrous stems. At Trewithen in Cornwall a plant from Forrest’s seeds has climbed 30 ft into a laurel and would invade neighbouring trees if not continually cut back.

Plants with larger, less hairy leaves and larger flowers have been named var. subcoriacea Rehd., but this variety is linked by transitions to the typical state and scarcely worth recognition.

The underside of the leaves of Lonicera henryi, here growing wild. Mingyong glacier, Meili Snow Mountain, north Yunnan, China, October 2019. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

The leaves of Lonicera henryi are variable both in terms of shape and hairiness in the wild. Here we discovered it on the steep slops of the Mingyong glacier, Meili Snow Mountain, north Yunnan, China, October 2019. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Lonicera henryi's blackish purple fruits. Mingyong glacier, Meili Snow Mountain, north Yunnan, China, October 2019. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Green immature, gooseberry-like fruits, turning blackish purple when ripe on Lonicera henryi. Mingyong glacier, Meili Snow Mountain, north Yunnan, China, October 2019. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

More typical purplish red flowers of Lonicera henryi. Saint-Thomas de Villeneuve, Plougastel-Daoulas, France. July 2014. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Usually orange to purplish red, the two-lipped flowers of Lonicera henryi appeared at the end of the shoots. A private garden in Binic, Brittany, France. July 2013. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Lonicera henryi features large lance-shaped mid-green foliage that look very glossy when wet; it makes good groundcover but will climb up anything it can. Author's parents' garden near Clermont-Ferrand, France. April 2017. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Petioles and young shoots are covered wtih white hairs on Lonicera henryi. Author's parents' garden near Clermont-Ferrand, France. April 2017. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Lonicera henryi is a vigorous evergreen climber, ideal for concealing a fence or small structure. Bokrijk arboretum, Genk, Belgium. June 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

Leaves of Lonicera henryi are gradually acuminate at the apex and downy on the margins. Bokrijk arboretum, Genk, Belgium. June 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

A beautiful yellow form of Lonicera henryi, a shrub usually presenting purplish red flowers. Bokrijk arboretum, Genk, Belgium. June 2018. Image Guillaume Mamdy.