The leaves are rather small, simple, opposite and have short petioles. The leaf margins are entire. The flowers are produced in spring, may be fragrant in some species and are usually white, pink or pale yellow and are paired at the ends of short stalks that emerge from the leaf axils. The fruits are small, paired, red or orange berries, often remaining on the plant into winter. The buds vary in shape according to the species, but their scales are arranged in four vertical rows.
Most species grown in Iowa are species introduced from east and central Asia.
Vine species with fruits all along the stems are generally introduced and those with flowers or fruit only at the stem tips are native. Both have become naturalized in our woodlands, often forming thickets that exclude native species. Of the two, the Tatarian honeysuckle is more susceptible to honeysuckle witches broom aphid. First detected in Scott county in 1981, this aphid feeds on the leaves, injecting a toxin that causes a proliferation of small side shoots at the branch ends called a witches broom. Affected leaves fold around the insect, making infestations difficult to control.