Tartarian Honeysuckle

Caprifoliaceae

LIFE FORM: Shrub

NATIVITY: Eurasia

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

Shrub to 8 feet tall; matte-green leaves are opposite; pale, brown bark peels off in sprips; suckers from the base.

FLOWERS:

Pink to white flowers bloom in pairs on a long stalk in late May.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Red berries are produced in late summer dispersed by birds; stems take root where they touch the ground.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

Neglected public parks and residential landscapes; woodlands that develop on abandoned open space; unmowed highway banks and median strips with frequent salt applications.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Salt tolerance along roadways; food and/or habitat for wildlife; erosion control on slopes.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Originally introduced as an ornamental species and for soil conservation purposes. Widely planted in the 1920s and 30s, it has now escaped to become a common weed. Invasive species in minimally managed habitats.