|
|
 |
|
 Bush honeysuckles are deciduous shrubs, ranging from six to 15 feet tall with smooth oval leaves that are 1 to 2½ inches in length. The tubular flowers bloom in early to late spring, ranging in color from white and yellow to many shades of red, depending on the species. Its berries grow in pairs and can vary from red to orange. One distinguishing characteristic of bush honeysuckles, separating them from the native version, are the hollow stems.
Originally from the Far East, bush honeysuckles were introduced to the United States as ornamental bushes and used for wildlife cover and ground stabilization. They are commonly found along forest edges, fields, pastures, roadsides and areas where the land is open. They reproduce from the roots and also through the berries, which are attractive to birds.
Exotic bush honeysuckles can form a dense shrub layer that crowds out and shades out native plants and may out-compete native bush honeysuckles for pollinators. Hand removal of small plants is useful for smaller growths. In shaded forest habitats, bush honeysuckles do not grow as readily, so repeated clippings near the ground will kill the plant. If the plants are cut once and left to grow, however, they may form stands that are denser than prior to the initial cutting.
|
|
