Description:
This is a multistemmed shrub that becomes 3-12' tall. The crown is
often as wide as it is tall and it is well-rounded overall; the
abundant branches are somewhat arching to spreading. On older shrubs,
the oldest branches toward their bases develop a coarse rough bark that
is brownish
gray; this bark often peels into narrow strips. On younger shrubs, the
oldest lower branches are relatively smooth; they have narrow strips of
dark gray and pale brown that don't peel. Upper branches and twigs are
relatively smooth and brownish gray, while young shoots are light green
or light reddish green, terete, and pubescent. Young shoots and twigs
are also hollow. Pairs of opposite leaves occur along young shoots and
twigs. These leaves are 1–2½" long and lanceolate-ovate,
lanceolate-oblong, or
elliptic in shape, while their margins are entire (smooth). The leaves
are widest at, or below, the middle. Leaf tips are acute, while leaf
bases are rounded or slightly cordate. The upper leaf surface is medium
green and hairless, while the lower leaf surface is whitish green and
short-pubescent, especially along the larger veins. The short petioles
are up to ¼" long, light green to light reddish green, and
short-pubescent.
Pairs of flowers develop from the axils of leaves on
short peduncles (about 1/3" or 1 cm. in length); these peduncles are
longer
than the petioles. The peduncles are light green to light reddish green
and short-pubescent. Each flower is about ¾–1" across, consisting of a
light pink corolla with spreading lobes (less often it is white), a
short green calyx with 5 teeth, 5 stamens, and an inferior green ovary
with a single
style and knobby stigma that is light green to light yellow. As it
ages, the corolla
becomes creamy yellow. The corolla has an upper lobe (actually
2 lobes that are joined together), 2 lateral lobes, and a lower lobe.
The lateral and lower lobes are narrowly oblanceolate, while the upper
lobe is oblong and sometimes slightly notched at its tip. The stamens
have white to pinkish white filaments and bright yellow anthers. The
ovary is ovoid-globoid in shape and a little less than ¼" long.
Underneath the ovary of each flower, there are a pair of inner
bractlets and a pair of outer bracts; the inner bractlets are
oval-ovate and shorter than the ovary, while the outer bracts are
linear-oblong and about the same length or a little longer than the
ovary.
The blooming period occurs
during the late spring, lasting about 2 weeks. Afterwards, the flowers
are replaced by berries that become mature during the late summer or
autumn. Mature berries are about 1/3" (8 mm.) across, globoid in shape,
and bright red; the juicy interior of these berries contains 2-6 seeds.
The seeds are ovoid and somewhat flattened in shape. The woody root
system is shallow and spreading. This shrub can reproduce clonally by
forming offsets (new shoots) near its base, and it can also reproduce
by layering when the lower branches have contact with moist ground.
Cultivation:
The preference is full sun to medium shade, moist to dry-mesic
conditions, and soil containing loam, clay-loam, silty loam, or sandy
loam. In general, this shrub is very adaptable; it develops quickly and
lives for about 10-35 years in the wild. Young shrubs can produce
flowers and berries in as little as 3 years. Winter hardiness extends
to Zone 4. This shrub is invasive and it should not be cultivated in
Illinois. It can be controlled by cutting the lower branches of the
shrub to its base and applying an herbicide to the stumps.
Range & Habitat: The non-native Showy Honeysuckle
is occasional in NE and north-central Illinois, while elsewhere within
the state it is uncommon (see
Distribution
Map). However, because it can be confused with its
parent species and possibly other hybrids, Showy Honeysuckle may be
more common within the state than official records indicate. This
hybrid shrub may have been introduced into North America from Europe,
or it may have have been developed within North America by the
horticultural industry. The parent species, Tatarian Honeysuckle
(
Lonicera tatarica)
is native to eastern Europe and western Asia,
while Morrow's Honeysuckle (
Lonicera
morrowii) is native to Japan. Wild
shrubs of Showy Honeysuckle in Illinois may be naturally occurring
hybrids, or they may derive from the dispersed berries of cultivated
plants.
Habitats include woodlands, woodland openings, woodland borders,
meadows in wooded areas, powerline clearances in wooded areas, banks of
streams and rivers, thickets, roadsides, areas along railroads,
abandoned or fallow fields, vacant lots, and fence rows. Showy
Honeysuckle is typically found in disturbed or degraded habitats,
although it has the capacity to invade high quality natural areas.
Faunal
Associations: The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily
by bumblebees
and other long-tongued bees; the Ruby-throated Hummingbird may visit
the flowers as well. Both nectar and pollen are available as floral
rewards. Some insects feed on the leaves and sap of honeysuckle shrubs
(
Lonicera spp.)
from Eurasia. The following Eurasian aphids curl the leaves of such
shrubs during the spring:
Hyadaphis
foeniculi (Honeysuckle-Fennel
Aphid),
Hyadaphis
passerinii (Honeysuckle Aphid),
Hyadaphis tatarica
(Honeysuckle Witch's Broom Aphid),
Rhopalomyzus
lonicerae (Reed Canary
Grass & Honeysuckle Aphid), and
Rhopalomyzus poae
(Honeysuckle-Grass Aphid). Other insect feeders from Eurasia include
leaf-eating larvae of a sawfly (
Zaraea
lonicerae) and leaf-mining
larvae of a moth (
Perittia
herrichiella). The larvae of a leaf-mining
fly (
Paraphytomyza
luteoscutellata) also feed on these shrubs; see
Blackman & Eastop (2013), Smith (2006), Microleps website
(2010), and Spencer & Steyskal (1986). The red berries of
honeysuckle shrubs from Eurasia are eaten by several frugivorous
songbirds, including the American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, European
Starling, Hermit Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson's Thrush, Gray
Catbird, Northern Cardinal, and White-throated Sparrow. White-tailed
Deer browse on the leaves, twigs, and berries of these shrubs, although
they are not preferred as sources of food. Both birds and deer spread
the seeds in their droppings, introducing these shrubs into new areas
(Myers
et al., 2004; Munger, 2005). Showy Honeysuckle and other Eurasian
honeysuckle shrubs provide nesting habitat for songbirds, and
protective cover for both birds and small mammals.
Photographic
Location: Along a partially shaded roadside within Crystal
Lake Park in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments:
Showy Honeysuckle (
Lonicera
× bella) is one of several honeysuckle
shrubs (
Lonicera spp.)
that have been introduced or developed by the
horticultural industry. Distinguishing the various species and their
hybrids can be difficult. Showy Honeysuckle has attractive flowers,
foliage, and berries, but it can spread aggressively. Some sources
refer to this shrub as Bell's Honeysuckle, however it was not named
after a person with 'Bell' as a last name (if this was the case, then
the species name would be 'belli' or 'bellii'). Instead, 'bella' is a
Latin
word meaning 'beautiful' or 'showy.' Showy Honeysuckle can be
distinguished from one of its parent species, Tatarian Honeysuckle
(
Lonicera tatarica),
by its light pink flowers (less often white) and
the pubescence on its young shoots and leaf undersides. In contrast,
Tatarian Honeysuckle typically has rosy pink flowers (less often pink)
and its foliage
is hairless. Showy Honeysuckle can be distinguished from its other
parent species, Morrow's Honeysuckle (
Lonicera morrowii),
by its light
pink flowers and slightly less hairy leaves; the underside of the
leaves of the latter shrub is more whitened from dense pubescence, and
the upper side of its leaves is slightly canescent from very short fine
hairs. In addition, the leaves of Showy Honeysuckle are more likely to
have acute tips and slightly cordate to truncate bases, while the
leaves of Morrow's Honeysuckle are more like to have tapered rounded
tips and rounded bases. Another common species, Amur Honeysuckle
(
Lonicera maackii),
differs from Showy Honeysuckle by having white
flowers, flowers and fruits that are nearly sessile, and leaves that
are more acuminate (with slender acute tips). Other honeysuckle shrubs
can be distinguished by their smaller flowers, floral bracts, and other
characteristics.