Lonicera tatarica

Tatarian honeysuckle

bush honeysuckle

Mark Schwartz.

What does this species look like?

Tatarian honeysuckle is an erect, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub growing up to 10 feet tall. Its showy, fragrant, white to pink to red flowers has both male and female parts, are arranged along the branches, and are insect pollinated.

Tatarian honeysuckle invades open woodlands, old fields, roadsides, and other disturbed sites.

Why observe this species?

This cloned plant was distributed historically as the Arnold Red honeysuckle. Honeysuckles are invasive and have not been distributed by phenological networks in the USA since 1987. The USA-NPN accepts observation data on these honeysuckles planted prior to 1987 (as part of the Cloned Plants Program). The USA-NPN does not promote any further planting or cultivation of this plant.

Where is this species found?

U.S. States:

AK, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY

click to enlarge

Special Considerations for Observing

If you want to enter phenology data for Zabeli honeysuckles (Lonciera korolkowii 'Zabeli', another cloned honeysuckle distributed by previous phenology projects) use the Tatarian (Arnold Red) honeysuckle, but put "cloned L. korolkowii 'Zabeli'" in the "comments" column when you register these plants.

Acknowledgement

We wish to thank Joseph Caprio, Pierre Dubé, Charles Holetich, William Kennard, Helmut Lieth, Leonard Perry, Owen Rogers, Forest Stearns, Morrie Vittum, Robert Wakefield, and all the original researchers involved in regional phenology projects throughout the United States and Canada. Their foresight in establishing these phenological observation programs will provide an abundant harvest of knowledge to this and future generations. The instructions and information provided for honeysuckle observations are derived from a previous publication (Dubé et al. 1984).

Which phenophases should I observe?

Leaves	Do you see...? Emerging leaves (previously "First leaf") Image of Emerging leaves (previously "First leaf") In at least 3 locations on the plant, an emerging leaf is visible. A leaf is considered "emerging" once the widest part of the newly emerging leaf has grown beyond the ends of its opening winter bud scales, but before it has fully emerged to expose the petiole (leaf stalk) or leaf base. The leaf is distinguished by its prominent midrib and veins. *All leaves emerged (previously "Full leaf out")* Image of All leaves emerged (previously "Full leaf out") For the whole plant, the widest part of a new leaf has emerged from virtually all (95-100%) of the actively growing leaf buds.
Flowers	Do you see...? *Open flowers (previously "First bloom")* Image of Open flowers (previously "First bloom") For the whole plant, at least 5% of the flowers are open and still fresh. *Full flowering (previously "Full bloom")* Image of Full flowering (previously "Full bloom") For the whole plant, virtually all (95-100%) of the flowers have opened, and many of the flowers are still fresh and have not withered. *End of flowering (previously "Last bloom")* For the whole plant, virtually all (95-100%) of the flowers have withered or dried up and the floral display has ended.

Leaves

Do you see...?

Emerging leaves (previously "First leaf") Image of Emerging leaves (previously "First leaf")
In at least 3 locations on the plant, an emerging leaf is visible. A leaf is considered "emerging" once the widest part of the newly emerging leaf has grown beyond the ends of its opening winter bud scales, but before it has fully emerged to expose the petiole (leaf stalk) or leaf base. The leaf is distinguished by its prominent midrib and veins.

All leaves emerged (previously "Full leaf out") Image of All leaves emerged (previously "Full leaf out")
For the whole plant, the widest part of a new leaf has emerged from virtually all (95-100%) of the actively growing leaf buds.

Flowers

Do you see...?

Open flowers (previously "First bloom") Image of Open flowers (previously "First bloom")
For the whole plant, at least 5% of the flowers are open and still fresh.

Full flowering (previously "Full bloom") Image of Full flowering (previously "Full bloom")
For the whole plant, virtually all (95-100%) of the flowers have opened, and many of the flowers are still fresh and have not withered.

End of flowering (previously "Last bloom")
For the whole plant, virtually all (95-100%) of the flowers have withered or dried up and the floral display has ended.

For more information

USDA PLANTS profile for Tatarian honeysuckle (USDA Symbol: LOTA)
ITIS information for Tatarian honeysuckle (ITIS TSN: 35306)

Acknowledgments

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