Japanese Honeysuckle

Biological Name:

Japanese-Honeysuckle: Lonicera japonica

Natural Habitat:

Japanese honeysuckle, or Lonicera japonica, is a type of flowering vine that is native to Japan, China, and Korea. It grows in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and along roadsides and streams.

Description:

Japanese-honeysuckle is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family which also includes plants such as elderberry and valerian. Japanese-honeysuckle is an annual or perennial plant that produces small white or yellow flowers and clusters of berries. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to produce berries that are similar in appearance to honeysuckle berries but are not edible. In some areas Japanese-honeysuckle is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the difference between honeysuckle and Japanese honeysuckle?
A: Honeysuckle Identification: Flowers Trumpet (American) honeysuckle has 1- to 2-inch-long, tubular-shaped flowers. The flowers are pinkish-red on the outside and orange to yellow inside the tubes. Japanese honeysuckle’s flowers do not form a complete tube. Instead, the petals flare into two lips.
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Q: How does Japanese honeysuckle spread?
A: Unlike native honeysuckles that grow and spread using tendrils, adhesive disks or aerial roots, the Japanese honeysuckle climbs by twining around objects. In this way, this invasive plant forms arbors in forest canopies and dense, sprawling mats on the ground.
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Q: How long can Japanese honeysuckle grow?
A: In addition, Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an attractive woody vine that can grow up to 80 feet long. It was widely planted in southern and central states for both ornamental and erosion control purposes.
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Q: Should I remove Japanese honeysuckle?
A: However, home gardeners are strongly advised not to plant it, and remove any Japanese honeysuckle from their landscape in order to contain the spread of this highly invasive species.
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Q: What is the problem with Japanese honeysuckle?
A: Problem: Japanese honeysuckle damages forest communities by out competing native vegetation for light, below- ground resources, and by changing forest structure. The vines overtop adjacent vegetation by twining about, and completely covering, small trees and shrubs.
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Q: Do honeysuckle roots damage foundations?
A: Many honeysuckle shrubs and vines (Lonicera sp.) have shallow and fibrous root systems that will not damage a house foundation if the foundation is structurally sound.
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Q: What happens if you don’t prune honeysuckle?
A: Neglected Honeysuckle Pruning Another problem with neglected and severely overgrown honeysuckle vines is that sunlight can’t reach the bottom branches because the top is too dense. When this happens, the leaves fall off the lower branches, leaving bare stems.
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Q: What do I do if I find a Japanese honeysuckle?
A: Uproot Ground Vines The most effective way to remove this invasive vine growing in the ground layer is to hand pull and uproot an area. Although this can be time consuming, you will have the least amount of regrowth and damage to native plants.
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Q: Where is the best place to plant honeysuckle?
A: Grow climbing honeysuckles in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade, ideally with the roots in shade but the stems in sun, such as at the base of a west-facing wall or fence.
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle vine invasive?
A: Japanese honeysuckle is an invasive, non-native climbing vine. It was brought to the United States, along with other non-native honeysuckles such as Tatarian (Lonicera tatarica), as an ornamental plant.
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Q: What are the problems from Japanese honeysuckle?
A: Problem: Japanese honeysuckle damages forest communities by out competing native vegetation for light, below- ground resources, and by changing forest structure. The vines overtop adjacent vegetation by twining about, and completely covering, small trees and shrubs.
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle poisonous to dogs?
A: Yes, honeysuckle is poisonous to dogs. Honeysuckle plants contain cyanogenic glycosides and carotenoids, which can cause severe symptoms in dogs, including vomiting, irregular heartbeat, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, and extreme thirst.
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Q: Does Japanese honeysuckle need a trellis?
A: Ideal at growing up fences, walls, or as a groundcover. An excellent solution for a fast-growing screen, even in the poorest of soil. Summer is the preferred planting time for this heat lover. Japanese honeysuckle is a climber that twines thickly around any vertical structure like a trellis, even the base of trees.
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Q: Where is Japanese honeysuckle a problem?
A: Japanese honeysuckle is one of the most recognizable and well established ornamental vines in the U.S. It is documented to occur and reported to be invasive throughout the eastern U.S. from Maine to Florida and west to Wisconsin and Texas, with scattered occurrences in the Southwest.
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Q: Do hummingbirds like Japanese honeysuckle?
A: While hummingbirds may feed on the nectar of invasive honeysuckle species, such as Japanese honeysuckle, planting native honeysuckle is preferred.
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Q: How big can Japanese honeysuckle get?
A: Leaves are 1.5 to 3 inches in length, and vines can grow up to 30 feet. Fragrant blooms, which change from pale pink to cream-yellow as they mature, begin in late spring and last through summer.
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Q: What is Japanese honeysuckle good for?
A: Honeysuckle is used for digestive disorders including pain and swelling (inflammation) of the small intestine (enteritis) and dysentery; upper respiratory tract infections including colds, influenza, swine flu, and pneumonia; other viral and bacterial infections; swelling of the brain (encephalitis); fever; boils; and …
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle toxic?
A: Symptoms: This plant is not considered poisonous. Contact dermatitis may occur in sensitive individuals. Warning: Seek medical attention if exposure results in symptoms.
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle poisonous to humans?
A: The stems, leaves and fruits of japanese honeysuckle contain some toxic substances, which are slightly toxic to adults but more toxic to pets and children. If consumed in large quantities, it will cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache and other poisoning symptoms.
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle fast growing?
A: Japanese honeysuckle grows very quickly and easily escapes cultivation. It competes with native vegetation both aboveground (by twining around trees and shrubs) and belowground (by sending out runners, or stolons).
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Q: Is Japanese honeysuckle easy to grow?
A: It is both a climbing plant and a shrub and comes from a genus of around 120 evergreen and deciduous shrubs and twining climbers. Honeysuckle is easy to grow, but only in the right spot because it is particular about being planted in the right place.
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Q: Where does Japanese honeysuckle grow best?
A: This is an adaptable plant that does well in full sun to part shade. A shadier location helps keep its growth under control. Japanese honeysuckle does well in average soil that drains well. Dryer soils limit the rampant growth of the vine that adapts well to heavy mountain soils.
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About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.