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Lonicera morrowii

Morrow's honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae Japan, Korea, northeastern China

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 3–8

Overview

Lonicera morrowii is a deciduous shrub in the honeysuckle family, growing 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) tall and as wide, with arching branches and a dense, rounded form. The oval to oblong leaves are 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, gray-green, and softly hairy beneath, and the older stems are hollow in the center. In late spring it bears pairs of tubular, two-lipped flowers about 0.5-0.75 inch (12-20 mm) long that open white and fade to pale yellow, scented and held on short stalks from the leaf axils. By midsummer these ripen into pairs of round, glossy red berries 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide. Lonicera morrowii leafs out early and holds its leaves late, shading out native plants beneath it, and birds spread the abundant seed widely. It grows in sun or shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, which has helped it become an invasive weed of woodlands, fields, and roadsides across the northeastern and midwestern United States, where it is regulated in several states. Its early leaf-out and heavy fruiting crowd out native shrubs and lower the food value of the habitat for wildlife.

Native Range

Lonicera morrowii is native to Japan, Korea, and northeastern China, where it grows in scrub, woodland edges, and wetlands. It was introduced to North America as an ornamental and for wildlife plantings and has since naturalized widely.

Suggested Uses

Once planted as an ornamental hedge and for wildlife cover and fruit, it is now discouraged or banned across much of North America because of its invasive spread. Removal projects in natural areas focus on clearing it to restore native plant communities. Native shrubs such as winterberry or arrowwood viburnum are used in its place for similar size and bird value.

How to Identify

Paired white-to-yellow tubular flowers and later pairs of glossy red berries arise from the leaf axils along arching branches. The older stems are hollow, and the gray-green leaves are softly hairy on the underside. The hairy leaf undersides and hollow stems separate it from the native bush honeysuckles, which have solid stems.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 8'

Width/Spread6' - 8'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in late spring, usually May into June, with the paired flowers opening white and aging to yellow over a week or two. The flowers are fragrant and draw bees and other insects. Red berries follow in summer and persist into fall, eaten and spread by birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white aging to yellow

Foliage Description

gray-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Lonicera morrowii grows in full sun to full shade on most soils, wet or dry, across a pH of about 5.0-7.5, which is part of why it spreads so readily. It needs no care to grow and resprouts vigorously when cut, so control of established plants usually combines cutting with stump treatment or repeated removal of regrowth. Seedlings and small plants are pulled when the soil is moist. It is hardy in USDA zones 3-8. Because it is invasive and regulated in parts of its introduced range, planting it is discouraged or prohibited in those areas. Native shrubs are commonly substituted where a similar form is wanted.

Pruning

Where it is grown or being removed, stems are cut back hard in late winter, though cutting alone prompts dense regrowth from the stump. Reliable control pairs cutting with herbicide on the cut surface or with digging out the roots. Routine ornamental pruning is not advised given its invasive status.