Practical information to identify and manage non-native, invasive plants
The Quiet Invasion:A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area
Lonicera japonica
| USDA Symbol: | LOJA |
| ITIS TSN: | 35283 |
| Presence: | Current Invaders |
| Habitat: | Terrestrial |
| Native Range: | Japan and Korea |
Toxic Characteristics
Produces a toxic substance in berries that is harmful only when eaten in large quantities.Geographic Distribution
Naturalized from Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, south to Texas and Florida and west to Missouri and Indiana. Also occurs in California. Present in all counties of the Lower Galveston Bay watershed.Introduction Pathways
Brought to the United States in 1806 as an ornamental and later planted for erosion control and wildlife cover.Specific Primary Habitats
Prefers disturbed or edge sites including roadsides, forest edges, forest canopy gaps, fencerows, and abandoned fields or pastures. Needs full sunlight and sufficient moisture to reach full growing potential.Identifying Characteristics
Exists as an extensively branching vine that is evergreen in climates receiving little or no frost. Leaves are ovate to oblong, occur in pairs oppositely arranged on the stem, and are 1.5 - 3 inches long. Young stems are hairy, while mature woody stems are hollow and hairless. Flowers are very fragrant, white, 1 - 2 inches long, and grow in pairs at leaf nodes. They are tubular with 4 fused petals opening terminally to two lips and have long, thin anthers. Fruit is a small black berry containing 2 - 3 seeds.Reproduction Characteristics
Reproduces both by bird-dispersed seed and vegetative means. Flowers primarily in late April through July, but continues into the fall; fruiting occurs September through November. Underground rhizomes and aboveground runners readily root at nodes.Growth Characteristics
Japanese honeysuckle will cover large amounts of space in a short period of time. Woody stems branch extensively and may reach 80 feet in length. Growth rates average around 5 ft./year.Ecological, Economic, or Social Impact
This vine overgrows, smothers, and kills native shrubs. Will also reach into forest canopies, shading out most or all light for native trees.Suggested Control Methods
Remove small plants by hand, including all underground rhizomes and roots. Mowing in mid-July and again in mid-September provides effective control. 2.5% or 2% solutions of glyphosate and triclopyr, respectively, are also effective.|
Native Species Alternatives
Below is a list of alternative plants that are native to the area:
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Lists
This species belongs to the following lists:
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Images
To view a larger version of an image, click on the thumbnail. Flowers of the Japanese honeysuckle. Photo courtesy of Chuck Bargeron, The University of Georgia, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 1150068. |
 Japanese honeysuckle growing over wall in a residential yard. Photo courtesy of Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 1383045. |
 Leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle showing multiple shapes. Photo courtesy of Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2307154. |
 Fruit of the Japanese honeysuckle. Photo courtesy of Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2307155. |
 Infestation of the Japanese honeysuckle. Photo courtesy of Chuck Bargeron, The University of Georgia, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2308102. |
 Flowers and apical (growing) stem of the Japanese honeysuckle. Photo courtesy of Chuck Bargeron, The University of Georgia, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2308104. |