Have you ever sucked the nectar from a honeysuckle flower? I remember doing this as a kid, imaging that this is what I drank as a fairy. You can pick honeysuckle flowers and make honeysuckle syrup with wildflowers and herbs!

Honeysuckle bushes grow wild in shady spots all over the East Coast. They have delicate white flowers and dark green oval leaves. It’s best to use a plant identifier app to make sure you’ve found Japanese honeysuckle, since there is a poisonous flower that looks similar.

Don’t pick flowers by a roadside and make sure the bush has not been sprayed with pesticides. I connect with the spirit of the plant by asking if it’s okay to harvest in my mind and humming a song as I pick.

Pick honeysuckle flowers on a sunny morning and make sure not to use the green stems, since those can be mildly toxic. The flowers are very delicate so place them gently in a container. You’ll want to make something with them right away because they will wilt overnight.

Benefits of Honeysuckle syrup from wildflowers

Honeysuckle syrup from wildflowers has many health benefits! Honeysuckle flowers are a home remedy for colds and flu due to their anti viral and anti bacterial properties.  

They also reduce cancer risk because of their huge anti inflammatory and antioxidant profiles.  Honeysuckle flowers are used to ease digestive issues including nausea, indigestion, bloating, and  constipation.

Honeysuckle is contraindicated in pregnancy, before surgery, and with bleeding disorders. 

Read this post to learn how to make healing drinks from wildflowers you can find right in your backyard.