Honeysuckles are woody shrubs or vines with opposite branching and simple toothless egg to oval shaped leaves. Bush honeysuckles have multiple arching stems arising from the base of the shrub, with a hollow pith. Bark gets shreddy as it ages. Honeysuckles have pairs of flowers in the leaf axils that develop into pairs of fleshy fruits.

Look Alikes

Elderberries (Sambucus spp.) also have many arching stems with opposite branching. However, they have compound leaves and clusters of many flowers/fruits are found at the tips of the branches.

Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.) also has many arching stems and shreddy bark. However, it has alternate branching, toothed leaves, and clusters of flowers at the tips of the branches.

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