- Appearance
- Lonicera morrowii is a multistemmed, upright, deciduous shrub that grows up to 8 ft. (2.5 m) tall. The bark is light brown and often pubescent on young stems. Stems are hollow.
- Foliage
- The grayish-green leaves are opposite, elliptic to oblong, 2-3 in. (5.1-7.6 cm) long and hairy underneath. Often it is one of the first shrubs to leaf out in the spring.
- Flowers
- The fragrant paired flowers are tubular, white to cream-colored, 0.75 in. (1.9 cm) in diameter and develop from May to June.
- Fruit
- The abundant berries are 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) in diameter, ripen to orange or red in color, often persist throughout winter and occur on 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) pedicels.
- Ecological Threat
- Lonicera morrowii 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. Lonicera morrowii is a native of 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.
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