Bush Honeysuckle

(Lonicera tatarica L.)

Interesting Information About Plant:

The seeds from the fruit are mainly spread around by birds.  The seeds cannot be digested causing them to leave the bird through their droppings.  This is why a lot of bush honeysuckles are right under trees.  Honeysuckles have a tendency to suppress the growth of the native plants around it.  They use up a lot of the nutrients and water in the soil and take the sunlight causing other native plants the inability to grow in that area.  Honeysuckle bushes can grow anywhere.  In mid spring the flowers smell of honey, hence the name honeysuckle.  The berries form in August and are not eaten by the birds unless there is nothing else to eat.  Bush honeysuckle is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall.  This plant was introduced to America in the 1700’s and is planted widely as an ornamental and for wildlife food and cover 

Common Name:  Tatarian Honeysuckle or Bush Honeysuckle

Scientific Name:  Lonicera tatarica L. 

Family Name (Scientific and Common):  Caprifoliaceae ; Honeysuckle family  

Continent of Origin:  East and Central Asia

Most Distinguishing Morphological Features of This Plant:

Plant Growth Habit:  Shrub  

Height at Maturity:  Between 3 – 10 Feet  

Life Span:  Perennial

Seasonal Habit:  Deciduous Perennial

Growth Habitat:  Full Sun is the best, but it can survive in partial sun 

Manner of Culture:  Landscape Shrub

Thorns on Younger Stem?  No

Cross Section of Younger Stem:  Roundish   

Stem (or Trunk) Diameter:  Between The Diameter of a Broom-Handle and a Coffee-Mug  

Produces Brownish Bark?  Yes 

Bark Peeling in Many Areas?  No

Characteristics of Mature (Brownish) Bark:  Lines Go Up-Down  

Type of Leaf:  Flat, Thin Leaf  

Length of Leaf (or Leaflet):  Less than Length of a Credit Card 

Leaf Complexity:  Simple 

Shape of Leaf:  Simple 

Edge of Leaf?  Smooth 

Leaf Arrangement:  Opposite 

Leaf has Petiole?  Yes 

Patterns of Main-Veins:  Pinnate 

Leaf Hairiness:  Somewhat Hairy  

Color of Foliage in Summer:  Green 

Change in Color of Foliage in October:  No Change   

Flowering Season:  Spring 

Flowers:  in Loose Group 

Type of Flower:  Colorful Flower

Color of Flower:  White or Yellow or Pink 

Shape of Individual Flower:  Radially Symmetrical  /  Bilaterally Symmetrical   /   Other

Size of Individual Flower:  Between a Quarter and the Length of a Credit Card 

Sexuality:  Hermaphroditic Flower   

Size of Fruit:  Smaller than a Quarter 

Fruit Fleshiness at Maturity?  Fleshy  

Shape of Fruit:  Spherical   

Color of Fruit at Maturity:  Red    

Fruit Desirable to Birds or Squirrels?  Yes   

Unique Morphological Features of Plant: arching branches and hollow twigs 

Is the Plant Poisonous:  None of Plant

Pesty Plant (weedy, hard to control)?  Yes  

Common Name(s):

Louisville Plants That Are Most Easily Confused With This One:

The different types of honeysuckles are hard to distinguish between; the berries remind me of holly berries.

Page prepared by: 

Ashley Beck

November 2005