Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii · Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Ovate to lanceolate with an acuminate (tapered) tip
Margin
Entire (smooth edges)
Arrangement
Opposite
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and distinct secondary veins arching toward the leaf margin
Key Features
Opposite leaf arrangement, simple ovate leaves with entire margins and fine hairs, pointed leaf tips, and multi-stemmed shrub habit with hollow stems in older branches
Description
Amur honeysuckle is a large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15-20 feet tall. It is notorious for leafing out very early in the spring and retaining its green leaves late into the autumn, giving it a competitive advantage over native plants. It produces fragrant white to pinkish tubular flowers followed by bright red berries.
Habitat
Thrives in disturbed areas, forest edges, open woodlands, roadsides, and abandoned fields. Highly adaptable to various soil types and moderate moisture levels.
Native Range
Native to temperate Asia (China, Korea, Japan, Russia), but widely introduced and considered a serious invasive species across eastern and midwestern North America