Plant of the Month: March, 1999

by Russell Stevens

Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica

Characteristics: Japanese honeysuckle is an introduced (from Asia) woody, twining, or trailing vine occurring on moist soil in bottomlands along creeks, rivers, streams, wooded areas and fence rows. It grows in thick, tangled forms or trails along fencerows and other plants.

Flowers are borne in clusters, are trumpet shaped and may range in color from white to pink to yellow. Japanese honeysuckle acts as an evergreen in some areas. Other common plants in the Honeysuckle family include Elderberry Sambucus canadensis, Coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, Trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens, and Rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum.

Area of Importance: Central Oklahoma and Texas, eastward.

Attributes: Dense Japanese honeysuckle stands provide cover for wildlife. Flowers are a favorite of bees and several species of hummingbirds. White-tailed deer and goats browse leaves and twigs. In fact, some managers fertilize naturalized stands of Japanese honeysuckle for deer food plots.

Problems: Due to it's trailing growth form and potential to form dense thickets, Japanese honeysuckle can be a threat to other plants. It is not known as good cattle forage and is viewed as a problem brush plant in some areas. Caution should be used if propagating for wildlife use.

I.D. Tip: Look for a woody, shreddybarked vine with trumpet shaped white, pink or yellow flowers in the summer. Yellow flowers are more common later in the season. Fruits mature as blackberries from September through March. Leaves are opposite, half evergreen and have a short petiole (stem).

Hundreds of plants are identified in the Noble Foundation Plant Image Gallery.