...fostering a harmonious relationship between people and the Southern Appalachian environment

JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera japonica Thunb.)

Description

• Semi-evergreen perennial trailing or twining woody vine with simple, opposite, oval leaves around 1.5 inches long with smooth edges.
• Extremely fragrant, two-lipped flowers, 1 to 2 inches long in pairs throughout summer, mostly white to yellow.
• Small black berries in early autumn.
• Spreads by seeds, underground rhizomes, and above ground runners.
• New stems reddish brown; older vines have light brownish bark that peels off in long strips.
• Creates dense, tangled masses.
• Origin--Eurasia

Distribution

• Common and frequent in lower elevations of all counties especially in recently disturbed forests and near agricultural areas.

Threat

• Dense, strangling growth shades out or topples native plants and depletes soil moisture and nutrients.
• Changes forest structure and shades excluded native shrubs and herbs.

Control

• Hand pulling, grubbing, prescribed burning, late fall foliar spray of 2% glyphosate, repeated control usually necessary.

Similar Plants

• Native honeysuckle have fused leaves through which the stem grows along newer growth.

Links to sites with additional information on Japanese Honeysuckle

• Invasivespecies.gov (the gateway to Federal efforts concerning invasive species)--Japanese Honeysuckle
• Vegetation Management Manual developed by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission--Japanese Honeysuckle
• The Nature Conservancy's Invasives on the Web--Japanese Honeysuckle
• Virginia Native Plant Society--Japanese Honeysuckle
• Plant Conservation Alliance--Japanese Honeysuckle
• Missouri Vegetation Management Manual--Japanese Honeysuckle

References: Virginia Native Plant Society, The Nature Conservancy