Tatarian honeysuckle: Lonicera tatarica (Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae)

Tatarian honeysuckle
Dipsacales > Caprifoliaceae > Lonicera tatarica L.
Tartarian honeysuckle is a multi-stemmed, upright, deciduous shrub that grows up to 10 ft. (3 m) tall. The leaves are opposite, ovate, 1.5-2.5 in. (3.8-6.4 cm) long and blue-green. Often, it is one of the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring. Flowers develop in pairs in the axils of the leaves in May. Flowers are tubular and white to pink to red. The abundant berries are 1/4 in. (0.6 cm) in diameter, ripen to an orange to red color and often persist throughout winter. The bark is light gray and can often peel in vertical strips. Tartarian honeysuckle readily invades open woodlands, old fields and other disturbed sites. It can spread rapidly due to birds and mammals dispersing the seeds and can form a dense, understory thicket which can restrict native plant growth and tree seedling establishment. Tartarian honeysuckle is a native of eastern Asia and was first introduced into North America as an ornamental in 1752.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plant Atlas of New England - University of Connecticut

Invasive Plant Manual - Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 1 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Weeds Gone Wild Fact Sheets - Plant Conservation Alliance's Alien Plant Working Group

Weeds of the Week - USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area, Forest Health Protection

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Flower(s); Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Flower(s); Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); in flower Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); fruiting in Polk County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); Polk County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Fruit(s); Showing both red and orange berries. Polk County, IA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Patrick Breen, Oregon State University, Bugwood.org 768x512	Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Diagram or Graphic; USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 3: 282. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Connecticut - Noxious Weed Law
Kentucky - EPPC List
Massachusetts - Noxious Weed Law
New Hampshire - Noxious Weed Law
Tennessee - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Vermont - Noxious Weed Law
Virginia - Invasive Alien Plant Species
Mid-Atlantic - EPPC List
Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest
Invasive Plant Atlas of New England

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.