Japanese Honeysuckle Bush: What You Need to Know

Japanese honeysuckle bush is a versatile and attractive addition to any garden. It's a climbing vine that can grow up to 40 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

The Japanese honeysuckle bush is a member of the Lonicera genus and is native to East Asia. It has a long history of being used in traditional medicine.

It's a fast-growing plant that thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. This makes it a great option for gardeners with varying levels of sunlight.

Japanese honeysuckle bush is often used as a natural air freshener due to its fragrant white, yellow, or pink flowers that bloom in the summer months.

Japanese honeysuckle is a woody, deciduous or semi-evergreen vine in the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae).

It is native to Japan, Korea, Manchuria and China, and has naturalized in the United States where it is considered highly invasive.

Japanese honeysuckle can be both a twining, climbing vine or prostrate and trailing groundcover, spreading both by rhizomes and above-ground runners.

It can reach 16 to 29 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide, and is capable of growing over plants and smothering them.

The species epithet is Latin for “Japanese.”

Here are some key characteristics of Japanese honeysuckle:

Japanese honeysuckle bush is a highly invasive species that can quickly take over an area, choking out native plants and disrupting the local ecosystem. It grows very quickly and easily escapes cultivation, competing with native vegetation both aboveground and belowground.

Lonicera japonica is notorious for "stealing" sunshine, which then stifles the germination and growth of other plants. It also damages tree trunks and can even cause tree and shrubs to collapse under the weight of the vines.

To control Japanese honeysuckle bush, it's essential to remove all roots or else it may resprout. Small infestations can be removed by hand or using a shovel or hoe, but for larger infestations, prescribed burns or herbicides may be necessary.

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Here are some control options to consider:

It's also worth considering using goats as a form of biological control, as they are known to reduce L. japonica densities. However, you will still need to dig up roots or continue to bring the goats back in following years due to the vine's ability to resprout from root fragments.

Japanese honeysuckle has a significant impact on the environment. It grows very quickly and easily escapes cultivation, competing with native vegetation above and below ground.

Lonicera japonica is a twining vine that spirals around other vegetation, stifling the germination and growth of other plants. It damages tree trunks and can even cause trees and shrubs to collapse under the weight of the vines.

Japanese honeysuckle has become naturalized in many parts of the world, including the United States, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand. It is classified as a noxious weed in 46 states and banned in some areas.

This invasive species prefers to invade areas that have been disturbed, such as roadsides or floodplains. It will generally only invade forests when the canopy has been opened by logging or fallen trees.

Japanese honeysuckle outcompetes native plants for sunlight and nutrients, proliferating using both sexual and vegetative reproduction. It produces seeds that are spread by animals and expands locally via rhizomes.

To manage invasive Lonicera japonica, small patches can be removed by hand or using simple digging tools. However, all plant parts including roots and rhizomes must be removed to prevent resprouting.

Here are some methods for controlling Japanese honeysuckle:

A native, non-invasive alternative to Japanese honeysuckle is Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). It grows up to 20 feet long and has bright orange, red or yellow, tubular flowers from late spring to midsummer.

Controlling Japanese Honeysuckle can be a challenge, but there are several options to consider. Mechanical removal is a viable option for small infestations, which can be done by hand, shovel, or hoe.

Be sure to remove all roots to prevent resprouting, and it's easier to do when the soil is moist. Mowing or line trimming can provide a short-term solution, but you'll still need to dig up roots eventually.

Prescribed burns can be effective for larger infestations, but this should only be done by a professional. Goats can also be used as a form of biological control, but you'll still need to dig up roots or continue to bring them back in following years.

If mechanical methods or prescribed fire aren't safe or practical, herbicides may be necessary. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation recommends applying glyphosate to foliage in late fall, after most other vegetation is dormant.

To get rid of Japanese honeysuckle, you can start by pulling out small vines by hand, but do this before they set fruit in the fall to prevent seeds from being dispersed by wildlife.

Cutting the vines down to ground level can also be effective, but be sure to immediately brush the cut stumps with liquid undiluted broad-spectrum herbicides like glyphosate or triclopyr. This will prevent more vigorous growth and make the process easier.

Large areas of honeysuckle should be mowed down close to the ground, and then sprayed with a diluted solution of glyphosate when new growth begins to sprout.

You can also consider using native substitutes like crossvine, Carolina or yellow jessamine, purple passionflower or maypop, Virginia creeper, and coral honeysuckle, which are all native to Virginia's Capital Region and can provide similar benefits to Japanese honeysuckle without the invasive risks.

Here are some native substitutes for Japanese honeysuckle:

To eliminate Japanese honeysuckle, you'll want to tackle it before it sets fruit in the fall to prevent seeds from being dispersed by wildlife. You can start by pulling small vines by hand, cutting larger areas down to ground level, or mowing them down as close to the ground as possible.

Cutting the vines without applying a herbicide afterwards will only encourage more vigorous growth, making the problem worse. Instead, immediately brush the cut stumps with liquid undiluted broad-spectrum herbicides like glyphosate or triclopyr.

For large areas, mowing is often the best approach. When new growth begins to sprout, spray it with a diluted solution of glyphosate as directed on the product label. Don't forget to wear protective clothing, including gloves and goggles, to avoid exposure to the herbicide.

Keep in mind that it's essential to keep an eye on the area to re-treat or remove any newly sprouting vines promptly. This will help prevent the honeysuckle from spreading and make the control process more effective.

Here are some methods for controlling Japanese honeysuckle:

Native Alternatives can make a big difference in your garden.

There are several vines that are native to Virginia's Capital Region that have pretty, fragrant blooms.

Crossvine (Bignoniacapreolata) is a beautiful and native option.

Carolina or yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is another great choice.

Moths, butterflies, and ruby-throated hummingbirds love coral or trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) for its delicious nectar.

Purple passionflower or maypop (Passiflora incarnata) is a good substitute for invasive plants.

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is a native vine that's worth considering.

If you notice a nursery still selling invasive plants, you might ask them to stop and instead sell these native vines.

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Japanese honeysuckle flowers are edible to humans and appreciated for their sweet-tasting nectar. You can enjoy them as a sweet treat, but be sure to only consume them in moderation.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Lonicera japonica is valued for its unique properties. The plant is called rěn dōng téng (忍冬藤), which translates to "winter enduring vine", reflecting its ability to thrive in cold weather.

The flowers of the Japanese honeysuckle bush change color as they age, turning from white to yellow. This phenomenon is why it's also referred to as jīn yín huā (金銀花), or "gold-silver flower".

L. japonica, also known as Japanese honeysuckle bush, has a fascinating origin story. It was introduced to Long Island, New York, in 1862 for ornamental purposes.

Originally from eastern Asia, it's been cultivated in the U.S. for aesthetic reasons, erosion control, and wildlife forage. Its widespread presence is a testament to human activity.

Today, L. japonica is listed as a high-risk invasive species in all of Virginia, threatening plant communities along the East Coast, Midwest, and Southwest.

Lonicera japonica has three subspecies, each with unique characteristics.

The Lonicera japonica var. chinensis is found in China, specifically in the Anhui province at elevations around 800 meters. Its corolla is purple on the outside and white on the inside.

The Lonicera japonica var. japonica is a vigorous vine with white corolla that turns yellow-white later. It grows on the edge of forests in China, Japan, and Korea.

The Lonicera japonica var. miyagusukiana is a tetraploid with a chromosome number of 2n=36 and is found in the Ryukyus Islands, Japan, on the tops of exposed windy limestone cliffs.

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Here's a summary of the subspecies of Lonicera japonica:

Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial woody vine that's usually classified as evergreen, but can be intermediate between evergreen and semievergreen in areas with colder winters.

Individual plants can live up to 20 years, which is impressive given their aggressive vegetative reproduction. Once established, a vine will spread along the ground in all directions where there is sufficient light and moisture, rooting at nodes and growing taproots at favorable locations.

Vines can survive in mowed areas, traveling across short stretches of regularly mowed areas to reach new habitats on the other side. They'll even form a dense mat with many layers of growth, and stems will climb any available structure, including trees, shrubs, and chain-link fences.

Seeds are distributed to new sites by birds, and most seeds germinate in the spring following dispersal. However, seedling mortality is high, both due to shade and drought.

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L. japonica originated from eastern Asia, a region known for its lush landscapes and diverse ecosystems.

It was introduced to Long Island, New York, in 1862 for ornamental purposes, showing how this plant has been valued for its aesthetic appeal.

L. japonica has been cultivated in the U.S. for over a century, demonstrating its adaptability and usefulness in different environments.

The plant's introduction to the U.S. was likely a deliberate effort to enhance local landscapes and provide benefits such as erosion control and wildlife forage.

L. japonica is a high-risk invasive species that threatens plant communities in the East Coast, Midwest, and Southwest regions of the United States. It's currently listed as a high-risk invasive species in all of Virginia.

This invasive species often invades areas where native ecosystems are disturbed, such as roads and buildings, logging, and farming. Disturbing native ecosystems is a common occurrence, but it can have unintended consequences like paving the way for invasives.

It invades both forest floors and canopies, as well as wetlands.

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