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 (tapering) tip
Margin
Entire (smooth edges)
Arrangement
Opposite along the slender, pubescent twigs
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and ascending lateral veins
Key Features
Opposite, simple leaves with entire margins and tapered tips; multi-stemmed shrub form with hollow stems in older branches; fragrant white flowers transitioning to yellow; bright red berries clustered along the stems
Description
Amur honeysuckle is a large, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that can grow up to 15-20 feet tall. It is noted for its fragrant white-to-pink tubular flowers in spring, followed by bright red berries in autumn that persist into winter. The dark green leaves emerge early in spring and remain on the plant late into autumn, giving it a competitive advantage over native vegetation.
Habitat
Thrives in disturbed forests, woodland edges, old fields, and along roadways; highly adaptable to various soil types and tolerates both full sun and moderate shade
Native Range
Native to temperate Asia (China, Manchuria, Korea, and Japan); introduced to North America as an ornamental and widely naturalized and invasive across the eastern and midwestern United States