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Scientists believe that an increasing number of cedar waxwings with orange tail tips can be attributed to the birds eating Morrow's honeysuckle berries, which contain a red pigment that combines with the bird's natural yellow tail to produce an orange color. (Image by Paul Reeves Photography/Shutterstock)
Morrow's honeysuckle thrives in the edges of forests, parks, fields, roadsides and other areas that have been disturbed by human activities. (Image courtesy Qwert1234/Wikimedia Commons)
Morrow’s honeysuckle is an invasive deciduous shrub with white, tube-shaped flowers and small, bright red and orange berries. It can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Appearance
Morrow’s honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub that sits upright and averages seven feet tall. It has oblong, opposite leaves of 1 to 2 inches in length that grow on short stalks. It has white, tubular, 5-petaled flowers and red- or orange-colored berries.
Predators
Birds and small mammals feed on the fruit of Morrow’s honeysuckle, which is poisonous to humans. The fruit, though abundant and carbohydrate-rich, do not offer the same source of high-fat, nutrient-rich food to migrating birds that native plant species do.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Morrow’s honeysuckle leafs comparatively early in the spring, and is often one of the first shrubs with foliage. Flowers bloom from late April through early May, and berries mature in July and last through the winter. Seeds are spread by birds that eat the fruit.
Did You Know?
- Morrow’s honeysuckle is an invasive plant that was originally imported to the United States in the 1800s for use as an ornamental, as food for wildlife and for soil erosion control. The shrub forms dense thickets which outcompetes other, native plants for space and sunlight.
- Invasive honeysuckles like Morrow’s can be easily confused with native honeysuckle bushes, so proper identification is necessary. In native honeysuckle plants, the inside of the stem is solid and white-colored; Morrow’s honeysuckle has stems that are hollow and tan-colored on the inside.
- Over the last few decades, cedar waxwings with orange-tipped tails have been recorded. This color variation is thought to be a result of the birds eating Morrow’s honeysuckle, which contains a red pigment known as rhodoxanthin. The red combines with the bird’s natural yellow tail pigmentation to produce an orange color.
Sources and Additional Information
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas – National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Morrow’s honeysuckle – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database
- Lonicera morrowii – Invasive Plant Atlas of New England
- Cedar waxwing – ARKive
- Exotic Bush Honeysuckles – U.S. Forest Service
Quick Facts
Species
Invasive
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Habitat
Found at the edges of forests, parks, fields, roadsides and other disturbed areas. Tolerant of shade but thrives in full sun.
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Range
Originally from Japan and South Korea, this invasive plant is fairly common in the mid-Atlantic region and can be found throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Lifespan
20 to 35 years
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Status
Stable
