Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii · Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Compound-like appearance actually consisting of simple opposite leaves along a twig, though commonly perceived as a pinnately arranged branch
Shape
Ovate to lanceolate with an acuminate (tapering to a sharp point) tip
Margin
Entire (smooth margins without teeth or lobes)
Arrangement
Opposite arrangement along the woody stem
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and branching lateral veins that curve toward the margin
Key Features
Opposite ovate leaves with sharply tapering tips, dark green color, hollow stems in older branches, and fragrant tubular flowers followed by bright red berries
Description
Amur Honeysuckle is a large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15 to 20 feet tall. It produces fragrant white to pinkish tubular flowers in the spring, followed by bright red berries in the autumn that persist into winter. The dark green, opposite leaves hold on late into the autumn season, often staying green long after native shrubs have dropped theirs.
Habitat
Thrives in forest edges, old fields, roadsides, and disturbed woodlands; highly adaptable to various soil types and partial to full sun exposure
Native Range
Native to temperate Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Russia); introduced to North America where it is widely naturalized and considered invasive across the eastern and midwestern United States