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Bush Honeysuckle, Lonicera spp. infestation, photo by WNY PRISM

Bush Honeysuckle

COMMON NAME:

Bush honeysuckle

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Lonicera tartarica, L. morrowii, L. maackii x L. bella

ORIGIN:

Asia

DESCRIPTION:

The invasive bush honeysuckles are deciduous shrubs that may grow to be 15 ft. tall. Honeysuckle leaves are opposite, have smooth margins, and can vary in shape, being oval or tapered at the tip. In May and June, honeysuckles produce many small white, pink or red flowers. From July through September, honeysuckles produce red or yellow fruit, which are often situated in pairs near the base of the leaves. The bark on the larger stems is shaggy. Invasive honeysuckles have hollow stems, distinguishing them from the native honeysuckle species.

ECOLOGY
RESOURCES
DISTRIBUTION

HABITAT:

Invasive honeysuckles grow in forest margins, canopy openings, roadways, meadows, abandoned fields and pastures. All the species of honeysuckle grow best in full sun, but they will tolerate some shade.

THREAT:

Invasive honeysuckles leaf out early in the year, allowing them to shade out native plants. Honeysuckles encourage birds to nest earlier in the year and lower to the ground, making them more vulnerable to predation. The fruit that invasive honeysuckles produce are eaten by birds, but they do not supply nutrition that native fruit-bearing shrubs provide.

MANAGEMENT:

Smaller shrubs can be pulled by hand. Larger shrubs can be treated with herbicide using cut-stump, foliar or basal bark applications.

WNY PRISM PRIORITY:

Tier 4 - Local Control

Invasive Species Priorities - Tier Chart

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Native Alternatives

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

American cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum)

Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum)

NYS Prohibited and Regulated Species - Part 575:

PATHWAYS OF INVASION:

Bush honeysuckles were introduced to North America as ornamental plants. Seeds are transported by wildlife, primarily birds.

Invasive bush honeysuckles are prohibited in New York State - for more information on Prohibited and Regulated Species, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/99141.html.

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION:

Widespread

MAP (via iMapInvasives):

This map shows confirmed observations (green points) submitted to the NYS Invasive Species Database. Absence of data does not necessarily mean absence of the species at that site, but that it has not been reported there. For more information, please visit iMapInvasives.