Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Plant Care
Lonicera villosa (Michx.) Schult.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Lonicera villosa, also known as mountain fly honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle native to North America.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to part shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Water Mountain Fly Honeysuckle every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to part shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season. It is reported as toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of pets.
Where Is the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Native To?
What Is the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera villosa) belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family within the Lonicera genus. Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is native to North America. Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is also known as Blue Fly Honeysuckle, Villous Honeysuckle.
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle displays a vining, twining shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 6 ft. Mountain Fly Honeysuckle produces fragrant tubular flowers in shades of white, pink, or yellow.
Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Lonicera villosa requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Need?
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle thrives in full sun to part shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to part shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Prefer?
Lonicera villosa grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Mountain Fly Honeysuckle prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Rich, well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Mountain Fly Honeysuckle to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Feed Mountain Fly Honeysuckle every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle can be propagated through softwood cuttings, layering, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to honeysuckle plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Toxic to Pets and Children?
Toxic (caution)
Reported as toxic in our plant data. Not verified by the ASPCA.
Berries may be mildly toxic if ingested
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle?
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, powdery mildew. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Mountain Fly Honeysuckle Need?
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is native to North America. In cooler regions, grow Mountain Fly Honeysuckle as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Lonicera genus — compare its care with other Lonicera species on PlantoScan.
Lonicera is part of the Caprifoliaceae plant family — browse all Caprifoliaceae genera and species.
Mountain Fly Honeysuckle thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Lonicera villosa (Michx.) Schult., family Caprifoliaceae (first published in Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 5: 256 (1819)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Mountain Fly Honeysuckle is reported as toxic to pets in our plant data (not verified by the ASPCA), so treat it with caution. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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