Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)

Originally prized in the 1800's as an ornamental plant at North American botanical gardens, this plant first escaped from cultivation from the Morton Arboretum outside of Chicago. In 1920, it unexpectedly could be found growing wild. However, that situation went without concern. Becoming increasing popular & valued as an ornamental yard plant, the Bush Honeysuckle eventually became happily cultivated by home owners for many decades. Amur Honeysuckles were most popular as lawn plantings between the 1950s through the 1980s. From 1960 to 1984, the US Department of Agriculture even promoted planting these bushes as part of a program to reduce soil erosion and to feed birds.

However in 1983, it was documented that Amur Honeysuckles were spreading freely in Missouri outside of cultivation. At that point, the Missouri Department of Conservation finally took notice & declared the Oriental Bush Honeysuckle as being an invasive species. These plants are very aggressive growers. Plus their berries attract birds that spread their seeds. Bush honeysuckles have now spread throughout much of the state and are crowding out native plants. At this time, their spread is still the most concentrated near urban areas. But they are reaching new areas; including other parts of the USA.

Over 100 years after the Amur Honeysuckle's introduction to North American (and almost 100 years after its escape into the wild) the Missouri Department of Conservation finally took notice. Conservationists now strongly recommend that this plant be totally destroyed where ever it is found. However, few people either know or care. Our neighborhood is filled with Amur Honeysuckles. Each year, there seems to be more and more of them. Because I have always seen them growing in with the native Missouri trees and wild flowers, I never realized before that they large bushes were NOT native plants.

Now, I know.