Japanese Honeysuckle: Lonicera japonica

Japanese honeysuckle is a woody perennial or twining vine that can grow up to 30 ft long.  The leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle are simple, oblong, opposite, but sometimes lobed.  The flowers are fragrant and are between 1-2 inches, blooming in late May through the summer.  Each flower is two lipped and a white to yellow color depending on age. The fruit of the Japanese honeysuckle is purple-black and a pulpy berry.

 Japanese Honeysuckle

photo from: http://reddirtramblings.com/roses/garden-bloggers-bloom-day-may-15-2010

Japanese honeysuckle’s habitat ranges from thickets, borders of woods and roadsides where it meadows.  It is also found where human disturbances have provided a gap in canopy and allow for rapid growth with sun exposure.  Throughout the United States, Japanese Honeysuckle has been found in the following states; Maine, NY, Mass, south to Texas and Florida, west to Missouri and Indiana

Click here for a map of the Japanese honeysuckle's distribution

 Japanese Honeysuckle berries

photo from:http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=830

Due to the plant’s wide seed dispersal it spreads rapidly and outcompetes native vegetation.  The honeysuckle also has rapid growth rate, extended growing season, ability to capture resources both above and below-ground, as well as a wide range of habitat adaptability. Once established the vine of the honeysuckle can engulf small trees and can also grow during the winter when other native species are dormant.

Japanese honeysuckles was introduced from Japan in 1800s as an ornamental shrub and vine and has been used to control soil erosion along railroads and highways.

Volunteers help remove invasive honeysuckle in Virginia 

photo from:http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=830

How to control this invasive plant?

*Mowing and grazing does not get rid of the honeysuckle, it resprouts!

·      Small portions can be pulled by hand, shovel, or hoe and removing the trailing vines, but soil disturbance should be avoided to minimize seed germination!

·      Cut material can sprout roots so should be removed from site! 

·      Unfortunately, the most effective means of eradicating Japanese honeysuckle has found to be roundup.

·      Roundup is a non-selective killer and does not kill the Japanese honeysuckle roots, but it has been the best at reducing new stalks and roots.

·      A combination of fire and herbicides has also proven effective.

Norah Carlos

USDA. "Species Profile: Japanese Honeysuckle." 2011.

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/plants/honeysuckle.shtml

Nuzzo, Victoria. 1997. Element Stewardship Abstract for Japanese Honeysuckle.  The Nature Conservancy. http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/lonijap.rtf

“Vermont Invasive Exotic Plant Fact Sheet Series”

Departments of Environmental Conservation, and Fish and Wildlife, and Forest Parks and Recreation, of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and The Nature Conservancy of Vermont Spring 1998 Revised Winter 2003