Habitat disturbance appears to facilitate introduction of these species, but native habitats without previous disturbance are also subject to invasion. The spread of bush honeysuckle is generally accomplished by birds. Fruits are consumed readily upon ripening during summer. Bush honeysuckle plants commonly are found growing under tall shrubs or trees that act as perch areas for birds. Seeds appear to need a cold stratification period in order for the seed to break dormancy.
Seedlings establish in areas of sparse herbaceous vegetation and can tolerate moderate shade.
It is suspected that bush honeysuckles may produce allelopathic chemicals that enter the soil and inhibit the growth of other plants, preventing native plants from competing with the shrub. Shading by bush honeysuckle may also limit the growth of native species. Bush honeysuckles leaf out before many native species and hold their foliage until November. Mesic upland and bottomland forests in Missouri are known to contain invasive stands. A recently introduced pest, the European Honeysuckle aphid, somewhat controls flower and fruit production in some of the bush honeysuckles.