Amur Honeysuckle – Lonicera maackii – non-native

This honeysuckle plant was sold in North America as an ornamentation beginning in the late 1800s until its invasiveness was recognized and its sale banned in many states. Birds, mammals and water movements spread its seeds and once it reaches a habitat, it can drastically upset the ecosystem’s balance. By producing leaves early in the spring and losing them late in the fall, Amur Honeysuckle possesses an extended growing season in which it quickly gains height and produces chemicals that damage the growth of many native species. The alterations it creates in habitat structure can benefit mosquitoes and ticks and, in turn, harm human health and comfort. 

Sources: Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative 

Illinois Natural History Survey