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
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.
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
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