Amur Honeysuckle | Nebraska Invasive Species Council

Credit: Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

General Information

Species Name: Lonicera maackii

Also Known As: bush honeysuckle

Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle)

Growth Form: Shrub

Life Span: Perennial

Flowering Dates: May-June

Origin: Asia

Toxic: No

Noxious: No

Watchlist: Yes. Please report to the local weed control authority if found in the following counties: Adams, Buffalo, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Greeley, Hall, Hamilton, Howard, Kearney, Merrick, Nance, Nuckolls, Polk, Sherman, Thayer, Valley, Webster, and York.

Why Is It Invasive?

Amur honeysuckle can form large stands that prevent native shrubs and herbaceous understory plants from growing. The fruits persist on the branches into the winter, when birds feed on them. In the spring, it is one of the first plants to leaf out, giving it a competitive advantage. This shrub can bear fruit when it is as young as 3 to 5 years old.

What Does It Look Like?

General Characteristics

Amur honeysuckle is an erect, multi-stemmed, deciduous (woody) shrub that can grow to 15- 20 feet in height.

Flowers

Flowers are less than 1 inch long, paired, tubular, white to pinkish, and five-petaled. The flowers appear on the plant from late May to early June, which is later than the other honeysuckles.

Leaves

The leaves are ovate (rounded, egg-shaped with a pointed tip), opposite, lightly pubescent (hairy/fuzzy), and 2- 3 inches long. The leaves are dark green above and lighter on the lower surface. The veins of the leaves are pubescent.

Stems

The pith (interior spongy tissue) of mature stems is hollow and white or tan, as opposed to native shrub honeysuckles which have solid white pith.

Seeds and Fruit

The fruit are spherical red to orange-red berries, developing in late summer and often persisting throughout the winter.

Photos

A closeup of the stem and leaves of amur honeysuckle

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the white flowers in bloom on an amur honeysuckle plant

Credit: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org

A large amur honeysuckle bush covered with its bright green foliage

Credit: Richard Gardner, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the red leaves of an amur honeysuckle bush as it becomes dormant for winter

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

An amur honeysuckle bush with its green leaves and purple berries visible

Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org

A closeup of an amur honeysuckle bush branch with its green leaves, white flowers, and red berries visible

Credit: John Ruter, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the pale brown bark of an amur honeysuckle bush's stem

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

A closeup of two buds with white fuzz on them growing on the pale brown stem of an amur honeysuckle bush

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the red berries on the stem of an amur honeysuckle bush

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

A closeup of the pale brown bark on the central trunk of an amur honeysuckle bush

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

The hollowed out pith of an amur honeysuckle branch

Credit: Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org

An amur honeysuckle bush with its red berries visible

Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

Where Does It Grow?

It is able to grow in a range of conditions from full sun to full shade and wet to dry soils. It thrives in disturbed sites, including forest edges, woodlots, floodplains, old pastures, fields, and roadsides.

How Does It Spread?

It was planted as an ornamental in New York in the late 1800s and has been widely planted for wildlife and erosion control. It has naturalized in the east and Midwest United States. Plants reproduce by seed which can be spread by wildlife.