Knowledgebase

Plant identification help #929065

Asked April 21, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

Hello, I have been trying to identify the bush/vine in the attached photos for years! I've gotten help from you confirming I had buckthorn in the past so I'm hoping you can help again. The photos are from the end of May 2024. The bush is starting to leaf out now, mid April. It gets at least six hours of direct sun and the rest of the day it gets filtered sun. It hasn't flowered for me in the three summers I've lived in this house. It's 7'-8' tall and 4-6' wide. I think I might have two of the same plant. I only included photos from the one but I have photos of tiny yellow flowers along the stem of the other one in late August. I have never seen flowers on the original one I'm asking about and they get similar sun exposure. I can reply with flower photos of the other plant if that might be helpful. Thank you so much for your time. Happy Spring! Kerry Schmidt

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for your question and pictures.

I am having trouble relating your question to the three pictures you submitted.  Specifically:

1).  Are all three pictures of the same plant?

2).  In this question you talk about different plants.  When you do this, I don't know which pictures you are talking about.  Could you please rephrase your question and please state which specific picture you are talking about.

3).  You asked us a plant identification question on 5/27/24.  The Master Gardener who answered that question said it was buckthorn.  What is the relationship between the picture of 5/27/24 and the pictures you are now submitting?  Same plant or are these two different plants?

I look forward to your clarifications.  Many thanks.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 21, 2026, 9:44 AM EDT

Hello again.

You mentioned that you have some pictures of these plants showing the flowers.  Could you please send these pictures to us as well.

Many thanks,

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 21, 2026, 11:13 AM EDT
Hello, sorry for the confusion. 
There is no relation between the buckthorn previously asked about and this plant. 
All three photos included are of the same plant. 
I will restate my question: 
The three photos are what the plant looks like in the end of May. Right now,  in mid April, the bush is just starting to leaf out. It gets at least six hours of direct sun all spring and summer and the rest of the day it gets filtered sun. It hasn't flowered for me in the three summers I've lived in this house. It's 7'-8' tall and 4-6' wide. Can you please help me with identification?
Thank you,
Kerry Schmidt 


On Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 8:44 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2026, 11:30 AM EDT
Hello again, 
Attached are photos of a second plant, I suspect could be the same type of plant as the one in question blooming in the end of August 2025.
Thank you, 
Kerry Schmidt 

On Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 10:13 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2026, 1:50 PM EDT

Thank you so very much for the flower pictures.  I'm closing in on an identification for which I would have confidence.  Just need four more bits of information:

1) .  Thinking back to 2025, do you recall when during the season (spring? summer? fall?) these yellow flowers first appeared?

2).  Again thinking back to 2025, did the flowers have a strong fragrance?

3).  In 2025, do you remember the color of the berries?

4).  Lastly, I assume that this plant and others like it were already there when you moved in.  Correct?

Thanks so much.Once I hear back from you, I hope to respond quickly.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 21, 2026, 2:20 PM EDT
The buds appeared around mid August. It is right outside my kitchen sink window so I saw it daily. I took photos when they started opening. The photo was taken August 24th. This plant is in the background of some other photos and it looks like a few flowers could have still been on the plant September 30th.
I do not remember a fragrance. 
I don't remember the color of the berries and I cannot see any in photos from last year.
Yes, these plants were here when I moved into the home in August 2023. 
Thank you!
Kerry

On Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:20 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied April 21, 2026, 2:40 PM EDT

Thanks for getting back to us.  Your clarification really helped.  Just for your information, I did look at your 2024 question and can confirm that the plant was common buckthorn.

With respect to your current question, I have consulted a variety of identification keys and have solicited input from other Master Gardeners.  I am now reasonably confident that you are dealing with a species of honeysuckle.  Unfortunately, I am unable to be more precise than this.  Although you have sent us 2024 pictures of flowers, when 2026 flowers appear please take pictures of them and send to us.  I think that a firm identification could then be made.  See:

https://plants.gertens.com/12070009/Plant/202/Mandarin_Honeysuckle/

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/search?kw=honeysuckle

Thank you for your great patience in our arriving at an answer albeit yet imprecise. 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 22, 2026, 12:57 PM EDT

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