Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans 9: 419 (1859))

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Author: (Rupr.) Maxim.

Bibliography: Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans 9: 419 (1859)

Year: 1859

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Lonicera

Vegetable: False

Observations: Russian Far East to China and C. Japan

Description

Bush honeysuckle, scientifically known as Lonicera maackii, is a captivating plant species that belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. This plant was first described in detail in the mid-19th century in the work titled “Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Pétersbourg Divers Savans,” attributed to the authorship of (Rupr.) Maxim. Its remarkable origins stretch from the Russian Far East through China and extending to Central Japan.

A deciduous shrub, bush honeysuckle is renowned for its adaptability and hardiness across varied climates. Its rapid growth capability and dense foliage make it a popular choice for ornamental purposes and natural landscaping. The plant showcases an array of dark green leaves with an ovate shape, which provide a lush, verdant appearance throughout the growing season.

One of the most striking features of bush honeysuckle is its flowers. Blooming primarily in late spring to early summer, the flowers are small yet abundant, typically presenting in shades of white to creamy yellow. As these blossoms mature, they often exude a mild fragrance that attracts a plethora of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, thus playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

Despite its aesthetic and ecological benefits, bush honeysuckle has also garnered attention for its invasive tendencies in certain regions. It can spread rapidly, often outcompeting native vegetation and altering local ecosystems. Consequently, managing its growth is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance.

In summary, the bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) holds both beauty and responsibility owing to its invasive nature. Native to the expansive regions from the Russian Far East to China and Central Japan, it continues to capture both attention and admiration for its resilience and ornamental appeal.

Common Names

Eng: amur honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle
Deu: maack-heckenkirsche, maacks heckenkirsche
Fra: clématite de maack
Hun: koreai lonc
Swe: koreatry
En: Bush honeysuckle, Amur honeysuckle
Hy: Ցախակեռաս Մաակի
Be: Бружмель Маака
Zh: 金银忍冬
Fi: Koreankuusama
Fr: Clématite de Maack, Chèvrefeuille de Maack
De: Maacks Heckenkirsche, Maack-Heckenkirsche
Hu: Koreai lonc
Ko: 괴불나무
Ru: Жимолость Маака
Sv: Koreatry
Zh-tw: 金銀忍冬
Zh-hant: 金銀忍冬

Synonyms

• Xylosteon maackii (Rupr.)

Distribution

• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Japan (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Korea (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken May 16, 2020 by Iva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2020 by Iva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by Seth Morris (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2022 by aries ross (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 16, 2020 by Lukas Luerken (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Bark

Taken Aug 26, 2022 by Gabe Kidd (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by Seth Morris (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 16, 2021 by Shannon Ostermueller (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 16, 2021 by Shannon Ostermueller (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2022 by Fazekas Zsolt (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 24, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2021 by Renato Rodrigues (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2022 by Jenn R (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2021 by Cassandra King (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 18, 2021 by Kevin Johansson (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Ian Martell (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 31, 2020 by Thomas Millet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 30, 2021 by Aneta Koehn (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2021 by eveb (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 18, 2021 by Kevin Johansson (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken May 17, 2022 by garua (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2021 by Richard Peiser (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2020 by Regina Sawyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2020 by Regina Sawyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2022 by fileve palmer (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7902463)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60463205-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Maxim.)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Shrub

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 6.0