Dear Jill,

From the picture that you sent, it appears that the shrub growing with your Annabelle hydrangeas is a honeysuckle. There are many different types of honeysuckle bushes, including some invasive honeysuckle plants in the Midwest. These include: Amur honeysuckle (Loncera maackii), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Morrow honesuckle (Lonicera morrowii) and Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera x bella).

Differentiating between the types of honeysuckle can be difficult as they have characteristics in common. But, from the distinctive pointed leaves in your picture, it looks like yours could possibly be an Amur honeysuckle, an exotic invasive plant. Exotic honeysuckles can spread quickly and out-compete other plants nearby.

Please see the following articles to help you differentiate.

https://extension.psu.edu/shrub-honeysuckle-accurate-identification

https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/exotic-honeysuckles

This article from the Midwest Invasive Species Network provides more detail about Amur honeysuckle and how to manage.

http://www.misin.msu.edu/facts/detail/?project=misin&id=8&cname=Amur%20honeysuckle

Because the honeysuckle has been there for a few years, I would recommend the “cut and paint method” to rid the hydrangea garden of this shrub. Cut back the honeysuckle to the stump. Then treat the individual plant/s with herbicides with the active ingredient of glyphosate or triclopyr. Glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide that will kill both broadleaf plants and grasses. Triclopyr is a selective broadleaf herbicide and will not injure most grasses. These herbicides can be applied to the cut stump after manually removing the stalks. I use a paintbrush to apply make sure the herbicide goes directly on the cut stump and none gets on the hydrangea (or any nearby plants). Leave the treated honeysuckle stump standing for 10 – 14 days so the herbicide has time to travel completely through the root system.

Otherwise, you would be looking at lifting the hydrangea, digging out all the honeysuckle and root system and replanting the hydrangea. This would be done next spring, just in case we have a severe winter coming up.

Wishing you the best with your garden!