Quick facts
The non-native (exotic) Bell's, Morrow's, Tartarian and Amur honeysuckles are Restricted noxious weeds in Minnesota.
- Exotic honeysuckles leaf out early in the season and shade out native herbaceous ground cover.
- Seeds are readily dispersed by birds.
- Plants deplete soil moisture and inhibit the growth of other plants and trees in the vicinity.
- Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) is native to Minnesota and a good substitute for local landscapes.
These exotic honeysuckles should be reported. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides detailed recommendations for reporting invasive species.
How to identify honeysuckles
- Upright deciduous shrubs, 8–12 feet high.
- Bell's honeysuckle is a larger horticultural hybrid; up to 20 feet.
Stem
- Older stems have shaggy bark and are often hollow.
Leaves
- Opposite, simple, oval and untoothed.
- Morrow's (L. morrowii) has downy leaves.
- Hybrid Bell's (L. x bella) leaves may be hairless or downy.
- Tartarian (L. tatarica) has smooth hairless leaves.
- Amur honeysuckle (L. maackii) leaves come to a long, sharp point.
Flowers
- Fragrant, tubular flowers that are white, red or, most often, pink.
- Blooms in May and June.
Fruit and seeds
- Fruits are red or yellow, situated in pairs in the leaf axils.
Roots
- Fibrous and shallow.
Reviewed in 2019