Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mexican Honeysuckle
Mexican honeysuckle is a small shrub with large, velvety leaves and bright orange tube flowers from spring into fall, and much of the year in warm spots. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit the flowers. In the Valley it does best in filtered sun or part shade, growing 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. It fits shady beds, east sides and large pots.
Best for: hummingbird gardens, shady and east-side beds, and filling beds under taller plants.
Its neon-orange tube flowers bloom from spring into fall and draw hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Plant a group of three or more near a window or patio to watch them.
It does best in filtered sun or part shade in the Valley, so it suits east sides, courtyards and beds under desert trees. The leaves grow larger in part shade.
It stays about 2 to 4 feet tall and spreads 3 to 6 feet, filling beds under taller plants. Space plants about 4 to 6 feet apart.
Full afternoon sun can scorch its leaves. At 25°F or lower it can freeze to the ground, though the roots usually regrow in spring.
- Mass planting4 ft apart
- Group or border4-6 ft apart
For the first two weeks, water a new plant every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted, water about once a week in summer and every other week in winter.
It does well in filtered or partial sun and some afternoon shade.
Frost near 25°F damages it. Once frost danger has passed in late winter, prune off damaged growth and shape the plant.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Does Mexican honeysuckle attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Its orange tube flowers draw hummingbirds, along with bees and butterflies, for much of the year.
Can it take full sun in Phoenix?
It does better in filtered sun or part shade here, because hot afternoon sun can scorch the leaves. An east side or a spot under a desert tree works well.
When does it bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall, and much of the year in warm, protected spots.
How big does it get?
It grows about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide. Plant it about 4 to 6 feet apart.
Is it frost hardy?
It handles light frost into the mid 20s. Colder freezes can take it to the ground, but the roots usually survive and regrow in spring.
When should I prune it?
Prune in late winter, once frost danger has passed. Cut out old woody or frozen stems, and it needs very little other pruning.
How much water does it need?
Water about once a week in summer and every other week in winter, in soil that drains well. It looks fuller and grows larger with regular summer water.
Is it the same as a vine honeysuckle?
No. It is a shrub with honeysuckle-like tube flowers, not a climbing vine.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. It works as a single plant in a large container, and a pot lets you give it afternoon shade on a patio.
Mexican Honeysuckle for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mexican honeysuckle is one of the best hummingbird shrubs for shadier Valley spots. It blooms from spring into fall and stays compact. Below are the questions people ask most.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Mexican honeysuckle and hummingbirds
Orange tube flowers bloom from spring into fall and draw hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.
Sun or shade for Mexican honeysuckle
In the Valley it does best in filtered sun or part shade. Full afternoon sun can scorch it.
Mexican honeysuckle after a freeze
At 25°F or colder it can die to the ground but usually regrows from the roots in spring. Wait until late winter to prune.
When does Mexican honeysuckle bloom?
It blooms from spring into fall, and much of the year in warm spots.
How big does Mexican honeysuckle get?
It grows about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, so space plants 4 to 6 feet apart.
Pruning Mexican honeysuckle
Cut out old woody and frost-damaged stems in late winter to keep it full. It needs very little other pruning.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.