Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Japanese honeysuckle is a woody vine that grows on Class: Magnoliopsida the ground and on other plants. Its stems are usually Order: Dipsacales hairy. The evergreen leaves are arranged opposite each other along the stem. Each leaf is simple, Family: Caprifoliaceae ovate, without teeth and as much as one inch wide. ILLINOIS STATUS Flowers are borne in pairs from the leaf axils. Flowers have long, curved, protruding stamens. The common, nonnative white or buff-yellow flowers may be as much as one inch long. The petals are composed of a three- parted segment and a two-parted segment that unite at the base into a hairy tube. The fruit is a black berry, approximately one-third inch in diameter.

BEHAVIORS Japanese honeysuckle is very common in the southern one-half of Illinois becoming less common northward in the state. It grows in thickets, wood edges and roadsides. Flowers are produced from May through June. This plant provides food and cover for wildlife. Its seeds are dispersed in the waste materials of the animals that eat the fruits. Japanese honeysuckle is a native of Asia that has been transplanted to the United States. It may grow very aggressively and prevent native plants from ILLINOIS RANGE surviving in an area.

mass of vines

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. leaves and vines leaves and flowers

Aquatic Habitats flowers none

Woodland Habitats none

Prairie and Edge Habitats edge

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.