Hardy Shrubs in the Honeysuckle Family
Hardy shrubs have the ability to grow in various ranges of temperature, in different types of soil, through periods of rain or drought and when exposed to other elements of the weather. Three kinds of hardy types of bush honeysuckles that exist in the United States come from other countries and are non-native species. Their penchant for growing under adverse conditions has allowed them to take over entire sections of a woodland or the borders of fields. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Geography
-
Tatarian honeysuckle is native to parts of Asia and Russia. Amur honeysuckle grows abundantly throughout much of Asia. Winter honeysuckle comes originally from China. In the United States, winter honeysuckle is less tolerant of the cold than the other two types. It grows in warmer climates in the eastern U.S., while Tatarian and Amur honeysuckle can survive as far north as Minnesota, Maine and Michigan.
Size
-
The mature height of Tatarian honeysuckle ranges between 10 and 12 feet, with the shrub able to spread as wide as it grows tall. Amur honeysuckle grows even taller, achieving mature heights of 12 to 15 feet. Winter honeysuckle is the shortest with a maximum height of 10 feet and many only reaching 6 feet.
-
Features
-
In the late part of spring, Tatarian honeysuckle produces pinkish or white flowers. The leaves are a dark green and the berries are red. Amur honeysuckle features white flowers that will change to yellow. The flowers will last well into the summer months. The leaves are also a dark shade of green and the berries are a brilliant red. Even before its leaves develop in early spring, winter honeysuckle has white flowers on it. The leaves are a blue-green hue and in the southern states stay on the shrub well into the winter. The berries are red and emerge in the summer.
Characteristics
-
The honeysuckles exhibits their hardiness by growing in a variety of sites. They can develop in the shade, in full sun, in alkaline soil and in damp or dry ground and stand up to windy conditions.
Disease and Insect Pests
-
Very few diseases or insect pests affect these hardy honeysuckle shrubs to the point where they damage them severely. All three can develop gray mold and/or powdery mildew, but these ailments are not serious enough to destroy the plant. Tatarian honeysuckle is sometimes a victim of the honeysuckle aphid and insects such as leaf hoppers and scales may attack all three types, but typically without much harm occurring.
-
