Honeysuckle is a beautiful and tasty wildflower. For many of us, honeysuckle may be one of the first foraged foods if only as drinking the nectar. Kids naturally seem to gravitate to its' tasty blossoms and most everyone who's lived where it grows seems able to identify it. These beautiful blossoms contain tasty culinary uses and also contain powerful medicinal. Bring some of those flowers inside and begin using honeysuckle for food and medicine with these easy ideas.
Proper Identification First
As with any foraging adventure, proper identification is key. Most honeysuckle plants are edible and safe. However, the berries, stems, and vines of some types are toxic. Be 100% certain of the identification before ingesting.
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Dehydrate Honeysuckle Blossoms
Lay the flowers out onto screens or trays and allow to dry until completely crisp. Store these dried blossoms in an airtight jar and use for tea or cooking all year long.
Honeysuckle's Medicinal Uses
Tasty as it is, honeysuckle also has some medicinal properties. Many traditional herbalists prefer the Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) for medicinal purposes. In the book, Backyard Medicine, the authors suggest using Woodbine Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum). Locally, I have Orange Honeysuckle (Lonicera ciliosa). I want to use native and locally available plants whenever possible and because I knew that my local honeysuckle was edible, I decided to begin trying it out on myself for medicinal uses. I found that a glycerite made from the flowers works wonderfully as sore throat remedy. Different types of honeysuckle have been used for everything from poultices for bruises, leaves for contraception, bark for hair growth and more.
If in doubt about your locally available honeysuckle and you're in the United States or Canada check out the Native American Ethnobotany database. It will list traditional uses and give you a way to try it out in your own home. You may find that not only are the flowers useful but so is the bark and other parts of this beautiful vine.
Honeysuckle as Food
Honeysuckle is naturally sweet and full of amazing floral flavor making it a perfect flower to bring into the kitchen. Give it a try in these recipes:
- It's never a bad idea to home brew those wildflowers into some tasty wine
- Save the bounty of summer for winter, while also making some beautiful gifts with Honeysuckle jelly
- Baking with flowers has become a favorite thing of mine which means this Honeysuckle & Lemon Pound Cake will be given a try very soon.
- Use that honeysuckle and fresh mint together in a vinaigrette dressing for those homegrown salads.
- Cool off on a hot day with a naturally sweet iced tea by using the honeysuckle blossoms as a delightful herbal tea.
This summer admire those honeysuckle blossoms by bringing them into the kitchen. Leave some for the bees and other pollinators but do get creative by using honeysuckle for food and medicine.
Do you have a favorite way to use honeysuckle in your home?
Jenn tennant says
Is there any medicinal uses for the berries?
Homespun Seasonal Living says
Many honeysuckle berries are downright toxic, so be 100% sure of your identification before ingesting. There is 1 edible variety but again be completely sure of identification. That being said, I’m not aware of medicinal uses for the berries.
Kerrie says
I use mine to make honeysuckle sorbet.
Claire says
Ooh that sounds delicious! Do you have a specific recipe please? What ratio of honeysuckle to syrup etc?
Yvonne Hursh says
In Missouri, honeysuckle are just blooming, as are the linden tree flowers. I can smell them 20′ away… well worth planting a linden tree, and the linden flowers can be used in the same way as honeysuckle flowers. Linden tea is most memorable. My tree is more than 5 years old, and this year it is covered with blossoms making it look like a Christmas tree just dripping with flowers.
Yvonne Hursh says
In Missouri the honeysuckle is in bloom as are the linden trees. My tree is about 5 years old and is covered solid with blossoms so that I can smell it 20′ away. I’m not aware of any healing properties, but the tea is most memorable and the reason I planted the tree.