Overview of bush honeysuckles in Michigan

Bush honeysuckles in the genus Lonicera are native to Asia and western Europe. There are several common species (typically invasive), a number of ornamental species that can naturalize, and hybrids.

In this region, important species can be broadly divided into two groups. There is a summer fruiting group with oval/rounded, often bluish-colored leaves that includes Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian or Tartarian Honeysuckle) and Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's Honeysuckle); Lonicera bella (Belle or Belle's Honeysuckle) is a hybrid of the two previous species. The fall fruiting species with pointed green leaves is primarily Lonicera maackii (Amur Honeysuckle). 

You can refer to this chart along with a key to species (PDF) from the USDA Forest Service, and this page on bush honeysuckles from the Ohio Perennial and Biennal Weed Guide for comparisons of these species.

Lonicera xylosteum (European Shrub Honeysuckle, Dwarf Honeysuckle) is a less-common non-native shrub honeysuckle established in some counties in Michigan that may also hybridize with some of the more frequently-occurring species.

The following Lonicera species are shrubs native to Michigan. Generally, they can be distinguished by their solid, rather than hollow, stems and in many cases distinctive fruit shape or arrangement. Native shrub honeysuckles are usually summer fruiting.  See also identification tips in Mistaken Identity? Invasive Plants and their Native Look-alikes: an Identification Guide for the Mid-Atlantic (PDF) by the New York Botanical Garden. 

• Lonicera canadensis (American or Canadian Fly Honeysuckle). 
• Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry Honeysuckle, Bracted Honeysuckle). A boreal species found only in extreme western Upper Peninsula.
• Lonicera oblongifolia (Swamp Fly Honeysuckle). 
• Lonicera villosa (Mountain Fly Honeysuckle). Northern species only found as far south as St. Clair Co.

Diervilla lonicera is a native "bush honeysuckle" that produces a seed capsule rather than a juicy fruit.

The following Lonicera species are vines native to Michigan; see Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) for information on vining honeysuckles.

• Lonicera caprifolium (Italian Woodbine)
  
• Lonicera dioica (Limber Honeysuckle)
• Lonicera hirstuta (Hairy Honeysuckle)
• Lonicera sempervirens (Trumpet Honeysuckle)
• Lonicera reticulata (Grape Honeysuckle)

See this key at Michigan Flora Online for Lonicera species established in Michigan.

Seeds of the bush honeysuckles are very similar, but some can be distinguished from many of the vining honeysuckles, often by color.

This chapter from the USDA Forest Service's Woody Plant Seed Manual (PDF) has many details on all North American Lonicera species.