[4] Zabel reported that he grew it in cultivation from seeds obtained from a plant of Lonicera morrowii, but that its appearance suggested the influence of L. tatarica.

Barnes and Cottam wrote that "references to the literature should be interpreted with the constraint in mind that there may be considerable confusion in the identification of the taxa involved.

[6] The parents are from discontinuous areas of Asia: L. morrowii is native to South Korea and Japan,[8] L. tatarica occurs from eastern Europe to Central Siberia and north-west China.

The hybrid has escaped from cultivation and is naturalized in central and eastern North America, where it grows in a variety of ecological conditions, wider than either parent, but often favouring disturbed habitats.

[5] Lonicera × bella exhibits a considerable degree of heterosis (hybrid vigour) and has become an aggressive invasive species in parts of the United States.