Sweet Breath of Spring: A Fragrant Shrub You Should Skip
With a name like sweet breath of spring, you’d think Lonicera fragrantissima would be the perfect addition to any garden. This early-blooming shrub certainly has its charms – intensely fragrant flowers that appear before the leaves in late winter, filling the air with honeysuckle perfume when little else is blooming. But before you fall for this seductive scent, there’s something important you need to know about this particular honeysuckle.
The Not-So-Sweet Truth About This Plant
Sweet breath of spring is a non-native species that originally hails from China and Korea. While it was introduced to North American gardens for its appealing fragrance and early blooms, this shrub has proven to be more trouble than it’s worth. It’s currently classified as invasive in North Carolina and holds a Category 2 invasive status in Alabama, meaning it reproduces spontaneously in the wild and tends to persist without human help.
This honeysuckle has spread across 17 states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Its ability to establish itself so widely is exactly why gardeners should be concerned.
Why This Shrub Becomes Problematic
As a perennial shrub that can reach 13-16 feet in height, sweet breath of spring has several characteristics that make it a garden escape artist. It’s a multi-stemmed woody plant with an arching growth habit that allows it to spread effectively. The shrub is remarkably adaptable, tolerating various soil conditions and thriving in both shade and full sun. Once established, it’s quite drought tolerant – all qualities that sound great for a garden plant but spell trouble when it jumps the garden fence.
The small red berries that follow the fragrant flowers are attractive to birds, who then spread the seeds far and wide. This is how sweet breath of spring has managed to establish itself in natural areas across such a wide geographic range.
Better Alternatives for Your Garden
Instead of planting this invasive honeysuckle, consider these native alternatives that will give you early season interest without the ecological concerns:
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Offers yellow fall color and supports native wildlife
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier species) – Early white flowers, edible berries, and stunning fall color
- Native azaleas (Rhododendron species) – Fragrant blooms in various colors depending on species
- Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Early purple-pink flowers before leaves emerge
If You Already Have Sweet Breath of Spring
If this shrub is already established in your landscape, consider removing it to prevent further spread. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, which covers much of the continental United States, making its removal even more important in preventing local invasions.
When removing the shrub, be sure to dig up as much of the root system as possible, as it can resprout from remaining roots. Dispose of the plant material responsibly – don’t compost it or dump it in natural areas where it might establish new populations.
The Bottom Line
While sweet breath of spring might seem like an attractive option for early season fragrance, its invasive nature makes it a poor choice for responsible gardeners. The ecological cost of planting invasive species far outweighs any garden benefits they might provide. By choosing native alternatives instead, you’ll create a more sustainable landscape that supports local wildlife and ecosystems while still enjoying beautiful, fragrant blooms.
Remember, gardening is about more than just what looks good in our own yards – it’s about being good stewards of the broader environment. Skip the sweet breath of spring and breathe easy knowing you’ve made a choice that benefits both your garden and your local ecosystem.
