Lonicera tatarica
Tatarian honeysuckle
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Family: Caprifoliaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle) is a non-native California shrub in the Caprifoliaceae family, recognized by key features: restricted to w CaR, upper leaves not fused, erect habit.
Tatarian honeysuckle is a naturalized shrub found in western California Ranges in disturbed places at elevations of 700 to 1,100 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white or pink flowers fading to yellow, with blossoms approximately 15 millimeters long in paired arrangements. Growing up to 3 meters tall with an erect habit, the shrub has glabrous or soft-hairy branches. Its leaves are ovate, 3 to 6 centimeters long, with rounded or slightly heart-shaped bases and obtuse tips, with upper leaf pairs not fused around the stem. The fruit develops as distinctive red, orange, or yellow berries approximately 1 centimeter in size.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features: restricted to w CaR, upper leaves not fused, erect habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed places
Elevation: 700-1100 m
Outside California: native to Siberia
Bloom period
Lonicera tatarica blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Symphoricarpos: Lonicera flowers are tubular and swollen on one side; Symphoricarpos has symmetrical bell-shaped flowers and white berries.; vs Rhamnus: Lonicera has showy tubular two-lipped flowers; Rhamnus has tiny inconspicuous greenish flowers with 4-5 separate petals.; vs Ceanothus: Lonicera has large tubular flowers; Ceanothus has tiny flowers in dense showy clusters.; vs Quercus: Lonicera has tubular flowers and berries; Quercus has catkins and produces acorns.; vs Vaccinium: Lonicera flowers are tubular and two-lipped; Vaccinium has symmetrical urn-shaped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lonicera tatarica native to California?
No. Lonicera tatarica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Lonicera tatarica bloom?
Lonicera tatarica blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Lonicera tatarica belong to?
Lonicera tatarica is in the Caprifoliaceae family, genus Lonicera.
What habitat does Lonicera tatarica grow in?
Lonicera tatarica grows in Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Lonicera cauriana — Blue fly honeysuckle
- Lonicera ciliosa — Orange honeysuckle
- Lonicera conjugialis — Double honeysuckle
- Lonicera etrusca — Etruscan honeysuckle
- Lonicera hispidula — Pink honeysuckle
- Lonicera interrupta — Chaparral honeysuckle
- Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus — Snowberry
- Symphoricarpos longiflorus — Fragrant snowberry
- Symphoricarpos mollis — Creeping snowberry
- Symphoricarpos rotundifolius — Mountain snowberry
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.