Honeysuckle

Bush honeysuckles were commonly planted ornamental shrubs in Calumet County. From these backyard and hedge plantings, the fruits were eaten by birds and the seeds carried off. Now there is honeysuckle in woodlots throughout Calumet County. Bush honeysuckles are easy to find in early spring when they begin leaf development one to two weeks before native shrubs. Honeysuckles are dense, upright shrubs, 3 to 10 feet in height, with shallow roots. The shaggy-barked older stems and branches of the shrubs are often hollow and easy to distinguish from other shrubs. Flowering occurs during May and June, and produces fragrant, tubular flowers arranged in pairs.

Honeysuckles vigorous growth inhibits development of native shrub and ground layer species and may entirely replace native species by shading and depleting soil of moisture and nutrients. The early leafing of these species is very damaging to spring ephemerals, such as our trilliums, spring beauties, hepatica and bloodroot, which have evolved to bloom before trees and shrubs have leafed out.