Orange Honeysuckle

This blog does not have any wildflower vines yet, so here's one to trumpet about! The Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa) is also called the Western Trumpet Honeysuckle. As you can see, the flowers are tropical looking and seem out of place in Oregon. But it is a deciduous vine native to the Pacific Northwest, and does have a noteworthy history, as it was first mentioned in a Lewis and Clark expedition notebook on June 5, 1806 near Camp Chopunnish, Idaho County, Idaho! This plant is a climber, and can reach up to 18 feet. Several plant web sites mentioned that the leaves are "contraceptive and tonic."

Ken and I spotted these plants at Stub Stewart State Park yesterday, at the top of the "Unfit for Settlement" trail! (6/06/2013).

Note the odd leaves at base of flowers.

This one is climbing up a Douglas Fir with new growth.