| sweet breath of spring |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: LOFR USDA ARS GRIN: 22576 ITIS: 35293 NAPIS: PAYACBH |
| Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & Paxton | |
|
Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae |
|
| Synonym(s): January jasmine | |
Sweet breath of spring is a multi-stemmed, upright, deciduous (evergreen in the South) shrub that grows from 6-10 ft. (1.8-3 m) tall. The stems are hollow with stringy, tan bark and are often purple when young. Leaves are opposite, round, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long and wide and usually persist into winter. Flowering occurs in the late winter, when fragrant, tubular, 0.5 in. (1.5 cm) long, white to red or yellow, thin-petaled flowers develop in pairs in the leaf axils. The abundant berries are 1/3 in. (8.5 mm) in diameter and ripen to orange or red in the mid-summer and often persist throughout winter. Several species of exotic bush honeysuckles occur and distinguishing different species can be difficult. However, all have similar effects. Sweet breath of spring readily invades open woodlands, old fields and other disturbed sites. Its rapid spread is attributed to birds and mammals dispersing the seeds. It can form a dense understory thicket which can restrict native plant growth and tree seedling establishment. Sweet breath of spring is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into North America in the late 1800s. It has been planted widely as an ornamental and for wildlife food and cover. |
|
Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Feature(s); leaves on twig in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); branch in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
- Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council, 2005
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, 1999.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 3
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Watch A
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
Partners
