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Lonicera tatarica

Tartarian Honeysuckle · Tatarian Honeysuckle · Bush Honeysuckle

Family CaprifoliaceaeGenus Lonicera

Pink two-lipped tubular flowers and slim buds paired along arching stems with oval leaves
FlowerUser:AlgirdasPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
8-12 ft2.4-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
8-12 ft2.4-3.7 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Red/Burgundy, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Altay, Central European Russia, East European Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • One of several bush honeysuckles from Asia now invasive in North America, where it grows quickly into thick mats that smother other plants. Wikipedia: Lonicera tatarica

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 4, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 60 days to germinate.

100% germination in 60 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173Public domain
Show the original text
Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae). All seeds are in berries and were WC for 7 d. Treatment with GA-3 was tried on L. tatarica germ. best with fresh seed in 70(100% in 2nd m) and less conveniently in 40(14%)-70(85% in 3rd m). DS 6 m at 70 reduced germination to 70(68%) and 40-70(81%) with similar values for seed DS 6 m at 40. Seed left on the bushes until January had much lower and more extended germination. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 7, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    14 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 90 days.

85% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173Public domain
Show the original text
Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae). All seeds are in berries and were WC for 7 d. Treatment with GA-3 was tried on L. tatarica germ. best with fresh seed in 70(100% in 2nd m) and less conveniently in 40(14%)-70(85% in 3rd m). DS 6 m at 70 reduced germination to 70(68%) and 40-70(81%) with similar values for seed DS 6 m at 40. Seed left on the bushes until January had much lower and more extended germination. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

81% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173Public domain
Show the original text
Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae). All seeds are in berries and were WC for 7 d. Treatment with GA-3 was tried on L. tatarica germ. best with fresh seed in 70(100% in 2nd m) and less conveniently in 40(14%)-70(85% in 3rd m). DS 6 m at 70 reduced germination to 70(68%) and 40-70(81%) with similar values for seed DS 6 m at 40. Seed left on the bushes until January had much lower and more extended germination. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

68% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173Public domain
Show the original text
Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae). All seeds are in berries and were WC for 7 d. Treatment with GA-3 was tried on L. tatarica germ. best with fresh seed in 70(100% in 2nd m) and less conveniently in 40(14%)-70(85% in 3rd m). DS 6 m at 70 reduced germination to 70(68%) and 40-70(81%) with similar values for seed DS 6 m at 40. Seed left on the bushes until January had much lower and more extended germination. .
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Lonicera p. 173. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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