Yeah, not to be the plant police or anything, but just f.y.i.: the above photo is an excellent example of an invasive honeysuckle from Asia. This is a Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) that was not planted by us. It invaded our yard a few years ago, and we have yet to get it completely eradicated. It's an extremely aggressive grower, to say the least. The leaves all over what looks like a shrub in this photo are actually the leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle, not the leaves of the shrub that was there before the invasion.

The garden bed in the photo above was once full of beautiful Columbine flowers, shrubs, etc. But as you can see, the invasive Asian honeysuckle has strangled all the other plants that once grew here. We're in the process of eradicating the Japanese honeysuckle now, but it's hard work, especially in the summer heat.

As for the Asian Lonicera tatarica, the Virginia Department of Conservation lists Lonicera tatarica as a "moderately invasive species". It's not banned in Virginia. Yet.

Here's the web address of the invasive listing from Invasive.org for Lonicera tatarica:

INVASIVE.org: Tatarian honeysuckle
http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=3043

Yes, Lonicera tatarica will grow 12 feet and perhaps more. It will require frequent pruning in an attempt to keep it under control, especially to keep it at a teeny-tiny size of 5 feet.

I would try any of these vines listed below instead. They all have a wonderful fragrance:

Evening trumpetflower (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)

American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)

American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

Some of these you would need to prune a lot too to keep the size small, but at least you won't be harming America's wildlife habitats (and wildlife) by planting them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Invasive Alien Plant Species of Virginia

I too have become the 'weed police' when it comes to invasives. I have planted the native honeysuckles - Lonicera sempervirens and I just love them. They are not fragrant but have the added plus that they aren't invasive in the environment, bloom on and off from May to hard frost, offer necter to the hummers and berries to the birds. When it comes to honeysuckle, I stick to the natives. :)

Newt

Hidden behind that fragrant aroma looms an invasive invader and I would suggest against any Japanese honeysuckle. My sister and I once took on the task of trying to remove such a monster on my mothers property once she passed. We would have been better served taking a bulldozer to the property. This stuff had been growing for many years maybe 30 and everytime we thought we had removed it all up popped more from underground. There are many types that are not invasive just dont have the aroma. Lonicerra Sempirvirens [Coral] being one of the more popular, but there are others.

"invasives" have a spot. Somewhere. It's under that heading 'one man's trash ...'. That does not apply to honeysuckle--not in this zone anyway. Never put it in the ground but maybe in a pot on the deck.
I have attacked a long row of honeysuckle every year for the past 10. It's holding out in one bed and in a forsythia hedge (both of which I want to keep so I can't round it up). I'm a believer in better living thru chemistry and am waiting for plant specific killers. In the meantime, pull clip pull.

I have native Lonicera sempervirens 'Major Wheeler' growing up a trellis and then around the deck railing. Yes, it's reather vigourous once established but easily prunable. The hummingbirds love it.

Another vote for the native Lonicera sempervirens. It really is quite beautiful. My neighbor across the street and up the block has the japanese honeysuckle, which I often find growing in my garden. It's ability to travel is astounding. The plants are immediately pulled.

I also grow the native honeysuckle and love it for its humming bird attraction vibe. And I always attack invasive honeysuckle whenever I find it, which is often. Yes, I loved sucking that little drop of honey out of the aromatic flowers when I was a kid....but no longer!

Go native!

Another native honeysuckle (lonicera sempervirens) fan here. After the first flush of bloom in early summer, it blooms lightly throughout the summer until frost takes down the last flowers. Excellent for attracting and supporting many species of butterflies, bees, beneficial insects that are parasites/predators of pest insects, as well as hummingbirds.