INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES FACT SHEET Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica

Description: Problem: Origin:

Japanese honeysuckle is Japanese honeysuckle Japanese honeysuckle a perennial woody vine damages forest is native to East Asia, of the honeysuckle family communities by out including Japan and that spreads by seeds, competing native Korea. It was introduced underground rhizomes, vegetation for light, below- to the United States as ground resources, and by an ornamental plant, for and above ground Very High runners. It has opposite changing forest structure. erosion control, and for oval leaves, 4-8 cm. long, The vines overtop adjacent wildlife forage and cover. that are semi-evergreen to vegetation by twining However, there are many evergreen. Older stems about, and completely better plant choices for are hollow with brownish covering, small trees and those uses (see back for Low Medium bark that peels in long shrubs. As it becomes good alternatives). strips. The flowers are established it forms fragrant, two-lipped, a dense blanket that and are borne in pairs. endangers most shrubs, The berries are black. It herbs, and trees. creates dense tangled thickets by a combination High of stem branching, nodal rooting, and vegetative Pictures By (From Top to Bottom): spread from rhizomes. C. Bargeron, T. Bodner and J. H. Picture By: The Nature Conservancy. Miller @ www.invasive.org. Distribution: IPSAWG Ranking: The species was Invasive Plants introduced into the are a Threat to: United States in 1806 HIGH HIGH MEDIUM on Long Island, NY. It • Forests and now occurs throughout Ecological Potential for Difficulty of wetlands the eastern half of the Impact Expansion Control United States, an area • Native plants encompassing 26 states. IPSAWG Recommendation: Japanese honeysuckle’s • Perennial gardens range is limited to the •Do not buy, sell or plant Japanese honeysuckle in Indiana. north by severe winter •Help by eradicating Japanese honeysuckle on your • Wildlife temperatures and to property. the west by insufficient • Lakes and rivers precipitation and This ranking illustrates the results of an assessment conducted prolonged droughts. It is by the Invasive Plant Species Assessment Working Group • Human Health in all 92 Indiana counties, (IPSAWG), which is made up of many organizations and agencies but is much more concerned about invasive plant species. IPSAWG’s goal is to assess which plant species may threaten natural areas in Indiana and • Farmland aggressive in Southern develop recommendations to reduce their use in the state. Indiana. For more information about IPSAWG and the assessment tool used Date Updated: 10/06 to rank invasive species, visit their website: www.invasivespecies.IN.gov ALTERNATIVES Control Methods: to Japanese Small populations of honeysuckle may be Be careful to follow label Honeysuckle: Japanese honeysuckle can treated with a glyphosate guidelines when using be controlled by careful herbicide. This is best herbicide. Reapplication hand-pulling and removal applied at 5-8% with a may be necessary to of vines. Mowing twice spray applicator in late treat plants missed during a year along fields and autumn when other the initial treatment. roadsides can slow the vegetation is dormant but Always read and vegetative spread but stem Japanese honeysuckle is follow pesticide label density may increase. still physiologically active. directions. Virgin’s bower Prescribed burning can (Clematis virginiana) greatly decrease the abundance within a habitat and limit its spread for one to two growing seasons. Where other options are difficult, Japanese

Japanese honeysuckle completely Trumpet Honeysuckle covering adjacent vegetation. (Picture (Lonicera sempervirens) By: J. M. Swearingen @ www.invasive.org)

Eight Easy Ways to Combat Invasive Plants

You can help stop the spread of invasive plants by following these 8 easy guidelines: 1. Ask for only non- for invasive species, and and natural areas to invasive species when you remove invasives before assist ongoing efforts Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe acquire plants. Request that they become a problem. If to diminish the threat of (Aristolochia tomentosa) nurseries and garden plants can’t be removed, invasive plants. at least prevent them from Pictures By (Top to Bottom): D. Lieb- centers sell only non- 7. Help educate your man, J. Lepore and S. Baskauf. invasive plants. going to seed. community through 2. Seek information on 4. Clean your boots before personal contacts and in Other Alternatives: invasive plants. Sources and after visiting a natural such settings as garden Virgina Creeper include botanical gardens, area to prevent the spread clubs and civic groups. (Parthenocissus horticulturists, of invasive plant seeds. 8. Support public quinquefolia) conservationists, and 5. Don’t release aquarium policies and programs to Crossvine government agencies. plants into the wild. control invasive plants. (Bignonia capreolata) 3. Scout your property 6. Volunteer at local parks

Not Recommended: For More Information: American bittersweet On this assessment and IPSAWG: (Celastrus scandens) IPSAWG While American bittersweet www.invasivespecies.IN.gov is native and non- On identification and control techniques: invasive, unfortunately, The Nature Conservancy’s Wildland Weeds nurseries often mislabel www.tncweeds.ucdavis.edu Oriental bittersweet as On native plant alternatives and sources: American bittersweet. It Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society is very difficult to find true www.inpaws.org American bittersweet for This grant project made possible with United States Forest Service funds sale. administered by the IDNR, Division of Forestry.