Here is a month-by-month outline of the life cycle stages of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) in Southeast Michigan, framed entirely in ecological/phenological terms. Management techniques have been excluded, focusing only on growth, reproduction, and dormancy patterns that matter for understanding how this species behaves through the year.

January – February

        •        Plants remain fully dormant.

        •        Leaves are absent; branches retain their opposite twigs with pale gray bark.

        •        Mature shrubs often hold onto persistent red berries from the previous fall.

        •        Roots remain alive and ready to resume growth when soil temperatures rise.

March

        •        One of the earliest woody species to break dormancy.

        •        Sap begins to flow before many natives.

        •        Swelling of buds occurs as day length and temperatures increase.

April

        •        Leaf-out begins, typically earlier than most native shrubs and trees.

        •        Leaves are opposite, ovate, and noticeably pale green.

        •        The plant gains a head start on photosynthesis while native species are still bare.

        •        Root growth also resumes actively in warming soils.

May

        •        Vigorous shoot elongation continues.

        •        Clusters of paired, tubular white flowers open, often before many native shrubs flower.

        •        Flowering occurs while leaves are fully expanded, taking advantage of high light conditions before canopy closure.

June

        •        Flowers fade to yellowish with age.

        •        Fertilized flowers develop into small green berries.

        •        Leaf canopy is fully developed, dense, and shade-producing.

July – August

        •        Berries enlarge and turn green to orange-red.

        •        Shrubs maintain dense foliage, often shading out herbaceous understory growth.

        •        Stems continue secondary thickening; root reserves build steadily.

September

        •        Fruits ripen to bright red and persist into fall.

        •        Leaf canopy remains dense while many natives begin senescing.

        •        Seeds are viable and ready for dispersal. Birds and mammals begin consuming fruits, dispersing seeds across the landscape.

October

        •        Leaves remain green much later than most native trees and shrubs.

        •        Fruits continue to be available and dispersed.

        •        Delayed senescence provides continued photosynthetic advantage compared to natives.

November

        •        Leaves may still be present after most native species have dropped theirs.

        •        Eventually, hard frosts trigger leaf drop, though often weeks later than native woody plants.

        •        Roots store carbohydrates over winter, supporting next year’s early growth.

December

        •        Plants are bare of leaves.

        •        Red berries may persist into early winter, continuing to be dispersed by birds.

        •        Stems and roots remain dormant, maintaining stored reserves.

Key Ecological Notes

        •        Extended growing season: Leaf-out occurs early (March/April) and senescence occurs late (October/November), giving the plant several extra weeks of photosynthesis compared to native shrubs.

        •        Seed dispersal: Fruits ripen in fall (September onward) and remain available through winter, ensuring continuous dispersal.

        •        Growth strategy: Dense foliage, rapid spring development, and late persistence create strong competitive suppression of native species.

Bark looks like a churro

Shrub is fountain shape

Leaves have a drip tip

Reb berries in the fall

Habitat — Amur Honeysuckle prefers open locations and fertile soils but tolerates shade and a wide range of soil types. It is resistant to heat, drought, wet soils, severe cold, and pollution. It thrives in disturbed sites and high quality sites, and can be found in ecosystems like floodplain, flatwoods and deciduous forests.

Identification — Habit: Upright, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub, verging on small tree. Grows up to 30’ tall. Long, arching branches from which younger branches spread upward.

Leaves: Opposite and lightly hairy. Ovate with an abruptly long, pointed apex (“drip tip”). Dark green above, paler on underside. Typically 1.5-3.5” long. Short stalked. Underside has hair along veins. Buds are pointed and light-colored.

Stems: Young stems have tan to brown pith, while older stems have a hollow center. Bark is light brown and often has grooves, ridges or splits lengthwise, appearing striped. Older stems may have shaggy bark. Stems smell sweet when cut.

Flowers: White to pinkish, tubular, and five-petaled flowers. Turn yellow with age. Usually ≤ 1” long, and found in pairs in the leaf axils. Fragrant. Flower stems are short (2-4mm) and downy.

Fruits: Small (1/4”), spherical berries. Orange to red and paired. Contain multiple seeds per fruit.

Seeds: Less than 1/8” long, oval, flattened, and yellow. Dispersed by animals. Can remain viable for 2+ years. A single shrub can produce over a million seeds annually.

Roots: Amur Honeysuckle has shallow, woody root systems, but can re-sprout from root fragments.

Other Honeysuckle varieties (most are also invasive)