Potential Importance

There could be more to this bush than meets the eye. It has few small yellow flowers in comparison to the larger mass of opposing green and sometimes purplish-red coloured leaves, on a multitude of stalks, usually only a couple of feet high . It is called Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) because it looks so much like the true honeysuckle in the genus Lonicera. They are however from the same plant family and are quite similar.

I think this plant might have more importance than we realize. Lonicera flowers, specifically those of the Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), are a very important herb in traditional Chinese medicine as a critical component in more than 500 herbal formulas. For more than 1500 years it has been highly valued for its ability to fight wind-heat, febrile diseases, sores and infection. It is the main herb in Yin Chiao and Gan Mao. These two formulas are a mainstay for treating colds. Gan Mao preventively for cold symptoms and Yin Chiao for heat symptoms like fever and soar throat.

According to a research paper published by the National Institute of Health (NIH), "modern pharmacological studies showed that Lonicera japonica and its active principles possessed wide pharmacological actions, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiendotoxin, blood fat reducing, antipyretic and other activities (Wang, 2008c). Most of these actions matched to those traditional uses seriously." They also stated that it has been recently used to treat coronavirus, SARs and swine flu.

Many species of Lonicera have flowers that are toxic, so don't try using them at home. We don't know what our local honeysuckle species can treat. There is an indication that perhaps they have similar benefits to the Japanese Honeysuckle that may warrant further research. In my yard this seems to be invasive even though experts claim it is not. In the end I have a great respect for this shrub despite its spread and persistence. The reason for that is not necessarily because of their potential medicinal benefits, but because the bees and hummingbirds love them so much.