China
Shrubs, deciduous, to 2 m tall. Winter buds with a pair of acute, cartilaginous outer scales covering membranous inner scales. Young branches usually with reflexed bristles. Petiole 2-5 mm, hirsute; leaf blade sometimes paler abaxially, variable in shape, obovate or ovate to lanceolate, 3-8.5 × 1-4.5 cm, glabrous to pubescent or hirsute, base subcordate to cuneate, margin ciliate or subglabrous, sometimes slightly revolute, apex rounded to acuminate. Inflorescences axillary with paired flowers at base of new shoots; flowers fragrant, opening early in spring; peduncle 1-15 mm, glabrous to hirsute; bracts leaflike to lanceolate, 7-10 mm; bracteoles absent. Paired ovaries fused to middle or above, 1-3 mm. Calyx cupular, truncate or minutely lobed, sometimes ciliate, not constricted at base. Corolla bilabiate, white to pink, 1-1.5 cm, outside glabrous to hirsute; tube 4-5 mm, inside densely puberulent, shallowly gibbous toward base; upper lip ca. 7 mm, lobed to middle; lower lip recurved, ca. 8 mm. Stamens and style exserted from corolla tube; filaments unequal in length. Style glabrous. Berries red, oblong, ca. 1 cm, partly united; seeds brown, slightly compressed, oblong, ca. 3.5 mm, with shallow pits. Fl. Jan-Apr, fr. Apr-Jun.
Lonicera fragrantissima is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into North America in the late 1800s. It has been planted widely as an ornamental and for wildlife food and cover.