Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) is in the honeysuckle family family (Caprifoliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,211 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Amur honeysuckle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Amur honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii, the Amur honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle in the family Caprifoliaceae that is native to temperate western Asia, specifically in northern and western China south to Yunnan, Mongolia, Primorsky Krai in southeastern Russia, Korea, and, albeit rare there, central and northern Honshū, Japan.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Amur honeysuckle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 342 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 309 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 289 | May | May–May |
| Ohio | 282 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 202 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 186 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 164 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 160 | April | Apr–May |
| New York | 158 | May | May–May |
| Texas | 156 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Missouri | 131 | May | Apr–May |
| Michigan | 122 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 108 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Jersey | 93 | May | May–May |
| District of Columbia | 89 | April | Apr–Apr |
| North Carolina | 66 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oklahoma | 56 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Kansas | 55 | May | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 45 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Iowa | 44 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 43 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Nebraska | 22 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 22 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 19 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 19 | April | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 10 | May | May–May |
| Connecticut | 7 | May | May–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (honeysuckle family)
Japanese honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle
Pink Honeysuckle
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Shortspur Seablush
Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Edible Valerian
Twinflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Amur honeysuckle?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Amur honeysuckle most often seen?
The most observations come from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania.