So I’ve been planning on getting a trumpet honeysuckle and happened upon this at a local nursery near me. The Latin name matches but it’s called “Alabama crimson” instead of trumpet or coral honeysuckle.
After googling a bit it says Alabama crimson is not native to Chicago area, even though Lonicera sempervirens is.
Can someone clear up what cultivar means exactly and is this even considered native to my location ?
by homemepleasenow
4 Comments
Basically hybrid phenom made to be pretty, used to be native and has been cultivated or domesticated
A cultivar is simply a cultivated example of the species that’s been selected for a number of reason in the nursery trade. People might find a wild plant or seedling that shows bigger flowers, different color leaf, or smaller sizes and they then propagate that plant. The plant then is given a cultivar name and is traded in the market.
Alabama crimson is a cultivar of Lonicera sempervirens found in Alabama that exhibits blueish leaves and more mildew resistance compared to the regular species. It should be fine in your garden. Doug tallamy has said there’s not much of an issues either if you want to use a cultivar that was found far away from your local region.
There’s a joke in gardening that’s basically says the regular form plants are fine but as soon as a plant becomes deformed, it becomes interesting and people wants to have it, and it becomes a cultivar. Thus deformed plants are the ones that get to travel around the world
Hummingbirds are gonna have a field day with it!
They’ve already explained nativar/cultivars but that plant is just barely native to Michigan. Idk if it’s really found in the wild there. But you are definitely fine having it. Great pollinator hang out. I’m in WI and plan on having one as well. Very pretty plant.
https://preview.redd.it/vy2cchdbsxwc1.jpeg?width=773&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b8ede46d5ac93fd8c63c9584ffc5ca185f18aed