39 Amur Honeysuckle
Image of the Tree You are Viewing
Basic Information about this tree
- Scientific Name: Lonicera maackii (Rupr.), Herder
- Common Names: Amur Honeysuckle
- Invasive: native to Manchuria, Japan, Korea, and China.
- Deciduous:
- GPS Coordinates: Longitude 92.90455 Latitude 45.00244 – just to the north-west of the nature center
- Condition and age guess of the tree you are viewing: Healthy, 5 years?
- Branch Structure: Amur honeysuckle is an erect, multi-stemmed shrub. The pith of mature stems is hollow and white or tan, as opposed to native shrub honeysuckles which have solid white pith.
- Typical height and width at maturity: 15 ft tall by 25 ft wide
- Typical longevity: up to 20 years.
- Soil, water, sunlight preferences: It is able to grow in a range of conditions from full sun to full shade and wet to dry soils. It thrives in disturbed sites, including forest edges, woodlots, floodplains, old pastures, fields, and roadsides.
- Flower Details: Monoecious flowers are less than 1 inch long, paired, tubular, white to pinkish, and five-petaled. Male & female parts within single blossom.
- Typical Pollination Mechanism: Self-pollinate and set viable seeds
- Growth habit of roots: Has shallow, fibrous roots that are typically 1/2–3 inches in diameter. The root system usually consists of three to four lateral roots and one or two vertical roots.
Mature Tree in Winter/ Summer
Leaves in Summer / Fall
The leaves are ovate, opposite, lightly pubescent (soft down or fine short hairs on the leaves and stems of plants), and 2- 3 inches long.
Flowers - Monoecious have both Female & Male parts
Fruit Unripe / Ripe
The fruit are spherical, green when unripe, developing into red to orange-red berries in late summer and often persisting throughout the winter.
Bark of Mature Tree
Uses in Traditional and Modern Eras
Value for wildlife: The fruits are enjoyed by birds which further aid in its spread.
Utility for Humans: NONE – INVASIVE — 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.
Homeowner’s Corner: Do not plant invasive honeysuckle species as ornamental plants. Eradicate existing plants on your property. There are native species which can be planted as alternatives, you can find a list of them in the MIPN Landscape Alternatives brochure.
Foliar, stem injection, and cut-stem application of herbicides that translocate their active ingredients into the root system can be very effective. Treatments will need to be repeated for several years to eradicate a population. If using herbicide treatments, check with your local University of Minnesota Extension agent, co-op, or certified landscape care expert for assistance and recommendations. There are several businesses throughout the state with certified herbicide applicators that can be hired to perform chemical applications.
Young plants can be pulled by hand. Mature plants can be removed by using a weed wrench tool or by repeated cutting. Keep in mind that physical removal in this manner can disturb soils and result in reinvasion or re-sprouting of honeysuckles and other exotics. Prescribed burning can be an effective tool to control infestations in combination with other techniques. Spring burning will kill seedlings and the tops of mature plants. Make sure to contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to learn more about control burning practices and regulations.
Links & References
References: https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/exotic-honeysuckles
Amur honeysuckle (and its close cousins) are Restricted Noxious Weeds in Minnesota, and its sale and propagation are prohibited. While landowners aren’t legally required to eradicate it, they’re encouraged to manage it to prevent it from spreading and damaging native habitats.