Shrubs Active during the day

Amur honeysuckle

Lonicera maackii

iNaturalist Wikipedia

A hardy and vigorous Asian shrub that dominates forest edges with its fragrant spring blooms and prolific red autumn berries.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

straighten

Size

A large, multi-stemmed shrub reaching 15–20 feet (4.5–6 meters) in height with a spread of 10–15 feet (3–4.5 meters).

palette

Colors

Dark green leaves; white flowers that fade to creamy yellow; translucent bright red berries; grayish-brown shaggy bark.

visibility

Key Features

Opposite leaves with distinct pointed tips
Hollow brownish pith inside mature stems
Fragrant tubular flowers in pairs
Bright red berries clustered at leaf axils
One of the first plants to leaf out in early spring

When You’ll See Them

schedule

Activity pattern Active during the day

brightness_5

Peak hours Daylight hours for flowering and bird activity

calendar_month

Season April-November

restaurant

Diet Photosynthetic; requires sunlight and absorbs water and minerals from the soil. It is highly adaptable to various soil pH levels and moisture conditions.

park

Habitat Common in forest edges, abandoned fields, suburban backyards, urban parks, and along riparian corridors.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Amur honeysuckle Live?

Native to the temperate regions of Eastern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Siberia, the Amur honeysuckle was introduced to North America in the late 19th century. It has since become a dominant invasive species across the Eastern and Midwestern United States and parts of Southern Canada. It thrives particularly well in disturbed landscapes where human activity has cleared native vegetation.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

7 Countries

15.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CN China JP Japan South Korea North Korea Russia US United States CA Canada

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

Sea level – 1,800 m

eco

iNaturalist / Verified observation data

View on iNaturalist open_in_new

Explore more Shrubs arrow_forward

Behavior

Amur honeysuckle is a highly successful and aggressive deciduous shrub. Its primary ecological strategy is 'seasonal phenology'—it is typically the first plant to produce leaves in the spring and the last to lose them in the fall. This allow it to capture sunlight before and after native canopy trees have their leaves, effectively shading out competition and creating dense, monocultural thickets.

The plant produces an abundance of fragrant flowers that are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and moths. In late summer and autumn, it produces heavy crops of red berries. While these berries are widely eaten by birds, they are considered nutritionally inferior to native fruits, as they are high in sugar but low in the essential fats required for bird migration. The shrub also exhibits allelopathy, releasing chemicals into the soil that can inhibit the germination of other plant species nearby.

In suburban and urban environments, it is often viewed as a nuisance due to its rapid spread and ability to choke out gardens and forest edges. However, its dense structure provides significant nesting cover for birds like Northern Cardinals and American Robins, though studies suggest these nests may be more prone to predation due to the shrub's low branching structure.

photo_camera EverydayEarth exclusive

Camera Tips

Using Amur honeysuckle as a focal point for your trail camera is a great way to capture bird and insect diversity. Because this shrub is often the first to turn green in early spring, it becomes a natural magnet for every bird in the neighborhood. Mount your camera 4 to 5 feet off the ground, angled slightly downward to capture the activity on the lower arching branches. If you can find a branch with heavy flower clusters in May, you'll likely capture hummingbirds and clearwing moths.

In the fall, when the bright red berries appear, position your camera near the fruit clusters. To increase your chances of capturing diverse wildlife, place a bird feeder or a water source within 5 to 10 feet of the bush. Birds will often use the honeysuckle as a 'staging area,' perching in its dense branches to scan for predators before hopping over to the feeder. This provides excellent, natural-looking shots of species like Cedar Waxwings and Goldfinches.

For the best image quality, try to place the camera so that it faces North or South to avoid direct lens flare from the sun, which can be exacerbated by the plant's shiny, translucent berries. If your camera has a macro or close-focus setting, use it to capture the intricate details of the white and yellow flowers. In winter, the shaggy bark and arching structure of the plant make for beautiful, high-contrast photos during snowstorms, often capturing overwintering birds looking for shelter.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Amur honeysuckle.

Morrow's Honeysuckle

Morrow's is generally shorter and has noticeably hairier (pubescent) leaves compared to the smoother leaves of Amur honeysuckle.

Browse all Shrubs arrow_forward

Frequently Asked Questions

As a plant, Amur honeysuckle is best observed during daylight hours when its flowers are open and its berries are visible. Its fragrance is often most potent in the late afternoon and early evening, which attracts crepuscular pollinators like hawkmoths.

Birds are naturally attracted to the dense cover and abundant berries of Amur honeysuckle. To maximize sightings on your AI camera, place a birdbath nearby; birds often use the shrub's thick branches as a safe place to dry their feathers after a bath.

Amur honeysuckle is a plant and produces its own food through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. It is particularly good at extracting nutrients from poor or disturbed soils, which contributes to its invasive success.

Yes, they are extremely common in suburban landscapes. They are frequently found along property lines, in unmaintained garden corners, and at the edges of local parks where they have escaped from original ornamental plantings.

The easiest way is to check the stem: Amur honeysuckle has a hollow brownish center (pith), whereas most native North American honeysuckle vines or shrubs have a solid white pith. Additionally, Amur honeysuckle grows much larger and more upright than many native varieties.

Record Amur honeysuckle at your habitat

Connect a camera to start building your own species record — AI identifies every visitor automatically.

Join free Identify a photo