Most varieties of honeysuckle have edible nectar, but never suck the nectar if you’re not sure. Similarly, many times the berries or flowers are toxic, so don’t eat those parts of the plants without knowing the type of honeysuckle you have.
You can also just pinch the end of the flower firmly. [3] X Research source
The style is one of the skinny pieces sticking out of the middle of the flower. The piece on the end of the style gathers the nectar when you pull it down through the middle of the flower.
You can also lick the style that you pulled out the bottom.
Make sure the variety of honeysuckle you’re using is edible! Many varieties are not edible. Try Lonicera japonica for an edible flower. Lonicera affinis also has edible flowers. [7] X Research source
One of the best varieties for fruit is the Lonicera caerulea. You can eat these by the handful. Other varieties have edible fruits, but you should be cautious how many you eat at a time to see how they affect you. Varieties with edible fruits include Lonicera affinis, Lonicera angustifolia, Lonicera caprifolium , Lonicera chrysanthemum , Lonicera Kamchatka, Lonicera periclymenum, Lonicera ciliosa, Lonicera hispidula, Lonicera villosa solonis , Lonicera utahensis, and Lonicera villosa.
A good variety for this is Lonicera caerulea. Make sure to only use edible varieties.
To make the jelly, add the juice of 1 large lemon and 1. 75 ounces (50 g) of fruit pectin after you’ve strained the flowers out. Boil the mixture for 1 minute, stirring often, before adding 4. 5 cups (900 g) of sugar to the pot. Stir until the sugar dissolves and let it boil for 1-2 minutes. [10] X Research source Once the jelly is done, pour it into clean jars. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to a month. You can also can it if you want it to be shelf-stable. Make sure to use an edible variety of flower, such as Lonicera caerulea or Lonicera japonica.
Honeysuckle only blooms for 2-3 months out the year in the summer, so the rest of the year you have to identify it by the leaves.
You’ll also see several skinny, string-like pieces sticking out of the middle of the flowers, which are the reproductive parts. [13] X Research source Trumpet flowers are a variety of honeysuckle, and they mainly have a long tubular flower in orange or pink. However, they aren’t edible.
Lonicera affinis has a similar look but slightly longer leaves, and it is another edible variety. [15] X Research source Another variety, Lonicera caerulea, has long white flowers with short petals that curl toward the center of the flower. The edible berries are much larger than other varieties, about the size of a small blackberry, and they’re blue in color.
