| sweet breath of spring | USDA PLANTS Symbol: LOFR U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub |
| Lonicera fragrantissima Lindl. & Paxton |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae |
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| Synonym(s): January jasmine | |
| Native Range: E. China (REHD); China (BAIL); | |
Sweet breath of spring is a multi-stemmed, upright, deciduous (evergreen in the South) shrub that grows from 6-10 ft. (1.8-3 m) tall. The stems are hollow with stringy, tan bark and are often purple when young. Leaves are opposite, round, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long and wide and usually persist into winter. Flowering occurs in the late winter, when fragrant, tubular, 0.5 in. (1.5 cm) long, white to red or yellow, thin-petaled flowers develop in pairs in the leaf axils. The abundant berries are 1/3 in. (8.5 mm) in diameter and ripen to orange or red in the mid-summer and often persist throughout winter. Several species of exotic bush honeysuckles occur and distinguishing different species can be difficult. However, all have similar effects. Sweet breath of spring readily invades open woodlands, old fields and other disturbed sites. Its rapid spread is attributed to birds and mammals dispersing the seeds. It can form a dense understory thicket which can restrict native plant growth and tree seedling establishment. Sweet breath of spring is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into North America in the late 1800s. It has been planted widely as an ornamental and for wildlife food and cover. |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
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| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Plant(s); Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; Lonicera fragrantissima; fragrant honeysuckle Richard Webb, Self-employed horticulurist, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Foliage; leaves on twig in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Feature(s); branch in September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org Alternative content
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 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. Alternative content
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| U.S. National Parks where reported invasive: |
| Stones River National Battlefield (Tennessee) |
