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Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)
A quick growing deciduous shrub reaching up to 15' tall with a hollow stem pith and pale, shredding bark.
This species is Prohibited (Red counties) and Restricted (Orange counties)
Other names for this plant include:
- Common names: bush honeysuckle, late honeysuckle, Maak's honeysuckle
- Thrives in forests, forest edges, and open grasslands forming dense stands.
- Plants leaf-out early and lose leaves late in the season which shade out native species and out-competes for nutrients.
- May be allelopathic - releases chemical compounds which inhibit the growth of other plants.
Classification in Wisconsin: Prohibited/Restricted (Restricted in Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties; Prohibited elsewhere)
Species Assessment Groups (SAG) were assembled to recommend a legal classification for each species considered for NR 40.The recommendation for Amur honeysuckle was based upon this literature review developed by the department.
Leaves: Dark green and elliptical to oblong. Leaves come to a long, sharp point and have hair along veins on the underside.
Flowers: Fragrant, white-pink flowers bloom in early spring (May-June), fading to yellow, and form in leaf axils. Flower stems are short and hairy.
Fruits & seeds: Bright red fruits in clusters of 2-4.
Roots: Shallow, fibrous roots.
Similar species: Bell’s honeysuckle; invasive (Lonicera x bella), Morrow’s honeysuckle; invasive (L. morrowii), and Tartarian honeysuckle; invasive (L. tatarica), are all very similar and equally invasive to Amur honeysuckle. Leaves on these Eurasian bush honeysuckles are more oblong, slightly hairy, and have a dull end. Flowers range from white – pink in color and also form in the leaf axils. Native bush honeysuckles (Diervilla lonicera) are smaller, have elongated fruit capsules, groups of 3-7 yellow flowers that turn reddish , and the stem has a solid pith. Fly-honeysuckles; native (Lonicera canadensis) also have red berries, but a solid stem pith, and white flowers that occur at the end of the branch (terminal) and hang down. Other native honeysuckles are woody vines that have connate (joined) terminal leaves below a cluster of flowers.
Counties in WI where Amur honeysuckle has been reported (as of July 2011). Both vouchered and unvouchered reports included.
Do you have Amur honeysuckle in your county but it isn't shaded on the map? Send us a report.
Mechanical: Hand pull or dig out seedlings or small plants; remove entire root system. It is important to follow up for several years.
Chemical: Cut stump treatments of glyphosate or basal bark with triclopyr.
View Amur honeysuckle pictures in our photo gallery!
Sources for content:
- Czarapata, Elizabeth; Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest: an illustrated guide to their identification and control. University of Wisconsin Press. 2005. Pg. 32-35
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