This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. Amur honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) that is native to eastern Asia but has naturalized in much of eastern North America. It is a listed invasive in the central and eastern USA. The plant has been seen in the mountains, piedmont and coastal regions of North Carolina. The species epithet honors 19th-century Russian naturalist and geographer Richard Otto Maack. Amur honeysuckle is highly adaptable, forming dense stands that crowd and shade out native plants, greatly reducing biodiversity. It is shade-tolerant and resistant to heat, drought, and severe winter cold. Amur honeysuckle grows quickly to a tall shrub of about 15 feet. When cut, it grows back dense and vigorous from the stump. It leafs out early and retains its leaves longer in the fall and early winter, giving it a competitive advantage over native species. The fragrant flowers open white and age to a buff yellow. The fruits are enjoyed by birds, which spread its seeds. This species is not recommended for any garden or landscape, as it is aggressive and weedy. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease problems. Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council More information on Lonicera .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Opposite leaves are dark green on top and lighter below, with long tapered tips.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Fragrant blooms appear in erect pairs late April and turn from white to yellow as they get older. Petals are fused to form a 2-lipped funnel-shaped flower.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Spherical dark red fruits 1/4 inch in diameter
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Deeply fissured and peeling in strips
Stem detail
The pith of mature stems is hollow and white or tan.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Amur River basin in China and Russia, Japan, Korea
Wildlife value
Fruits are enjoyed by birds and aid in the spread of this plant.