Shrubby Honeysuckle

This species of honey suckle differs from Japanese honeysuckle as it originates in Europe and parts of Asia and is comprised of a three subspecies.

 Morrow honeysuckle:

·       downy leaves and white flowers that turn pale yellow as they age

Tatarian honeysuckle:

·      smooth, hairless leaves with pink, red or white flowers that do not turn yellow with age.

Belle honeysuckle:

·       hybrid between Tatarian and Morrow honeysuckles and is an intermediate between the two

Morrow honeysuckle on the right, Belle honeysuckle in the middle, Tartarian honeysuckle on the left

 photo received from http://www.tneppc.org/invasive_plants/37

These species are also generally described as:

o   upright, coarse, deciduous shrugs that range from a few feet to up to 16 feet in height.

o   opposite simple leaves are oval and oblong

o   tubular flowers are numerous and occur in pairs on slender stalks

o   fruit is many seeded, red, orange, or yellow

All the above species are common in Vermont, specifically within the Champlain lowlands and are quickly spreading up the Connecticut Valley.  Shrubby honeysuckle thrive in abandoned fields, pastures, hedge rows, edges of forest and wetlands, but also in forests.  They prefer limey soils but are tolerant of varying soil moisture levels, making their adaptation easy.  They can survive in moderate shade but prefer open areas and achieve greatest fruit production when fully exposed to sunlight.

As recently as the 1980’s, shrubby honeysuckle was promoted for their ornamental use, but also for their positive effects on soil stabilization and wildlife values. It has now been made evident, however, that these varieties of honeysuckle are invaders that become a common component of the site or natural community in which it invades.  Shrubby honeysuckle forms a dense shrub layer that interferes with the life cycles of many native wood and herbaceous plants, including rare and endangered species.  These plants can also alter habitats by decreasing light availability. 

What can you do to control shrubby honeysuckle?
(check out the Missouri Department of Conservation's guide to controlling these invasive plants)

Control is difficult because birds eat the seeds and further disperse them across various terrains.  So far, the best means of erdication prescribed by the Departments of Environmental Conservation,  Forest Parks and Recreation, of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and The Nature Conservancy of Vermont are herbicides.  Alternatives to herbicides are cuttings, which should be done in early spring and in late summer or early fall due to the fact that mature plants will re-sprout but may reduce seed sources.  This cutting process must be repeated for 3-5 years to inhibit new shoots and totally eradicate target plants.

Norah Carlos.

Missouri Department of Conservation. "Invasive Honeysuckle Control." 2007.

http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/Documents/15700.pdf

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