Virginia Tech Dendrology

Tatarian honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lonicera tatarica L. symbol: LOTA
Leaf: Opposite, simple, oval to ovate, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, entire edges, light green to blue-green and smooth above and below.
Flower: Red to pale pink (sometimes white), 3/4 to 1 inch long, tubular at the base and opening to 5 strap-like lobes, appearing in pairs in late spring.
Fruit: Juicy orange to red berry, 1/4 inch in diameter, maturing in mid summer.
Twig: Slender, slightly pubescent when young, later glabrous, grayish brown, hollow pith; opposite, short blunt buds.
Bark: Develops long shallow splits, may peel in vertical splits, grayish brown.
Form: A rounded shrub up to 12 feet tall with a dense crown of arching branches.
Looks like: Belle's honeysuckle - Morrow honeysuckle - Amur honeysuckle - American fly honeysuckle

Additional Range Information: Lonicera tatarica is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information