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Home , Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens

Invasive Alien Species of Virginia Japanese ( Thunberg)

Description Japanese Honeysuckle is a trailing or twining woody that can grow to more than 30 feet in length. Young stems are often hairy; older stems are hollow with brownish bark that may peel off in shreds. The simple, oppo- site are oval to oblong in shape and range from 1.5 to 3 inches in length. In much of Virginia, leaves of Japanese honeysuckle are semiever- green and may persist on year-round. The extremely fragrant, two- lipped are borne in pairs in the axils of young branches and are produced throughout the summer. Flowers range from 1 to 2 inches in length and are white with a slight purple or pink tinge when young, changing to white or yellow with age. The is a many-seeded, black, pulpy that matures in early autumn. Japanese honeysuckle is distinct from our two native , the trumpet honeysuckle (), and wild honeysuckle (). These natives both bear red to orange-red berries, and their uppermost pair of leaves is joined together.

Habitat cover, for erosion control, and for Japanese honeysuckle occurs prima- wildlife food and habitat. In Vir- rily in disturbed habitats such as ginia, Japanese honeysuckle is natu- roadsides, trails, fencerows, aban- ralized statewide, being most abun- doned fields and forest edges. It of- dant in piedmont and coastal plain ten invades native plant communi- forests. ties after natural or human induced disturbance such as logging, Threats roadbuilding, floods, glaze and Where light levels are optimal, such windstorms, or pest and disease out- as in forest edges, canopy gaps or breaks. under sparse, open forest, newly es- tablished Japanese honeysuckle Distribution vines grow and spread rapidly. Sup- Japanese honeysuckle is native to pressed vines growing in dense eastern Asia. Introduced to cultiva- shade, however, are capable of rapid tion in 1862 on Long Island, Japa- growth and spread when light lev- nese honeysuckle is now widely els in a habitat are increased by dis- naturalized in the eastern and cen- turbance. In forests, Japanese hon- tral United States. Japanese - eysuckle vines spread both vertically suckle was, and in some areas still and horizontally by climbing up tree is, planted as an ornamental ground trunks and/or by trailing or clamber- Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) For more information, contact the Department of Conservation and Recreation or the Virginia Native Plant Society.

Virginia Native Plant Society P.O. Box 844, Annandale, VA 22030 1500 E. Main Street, Suite 312, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 786-7951 Invasive Alien Plant Species of Vir ginia Japanese Honeysuckle ing over the forest floor and associ- by prescribed burning. Burning can honesuckle for use in home land- ated vegetation. Trailing vines pro- greatly decrease the abundance of scaping include trumpet creeper duce stolons which root when they Japanese honeysuckle within a habi- (Campsis radicans), Virginia contact soil, aiding the vegetative tat and limit its spread for one or two creeper (Parthenocissus quin- spread and persistence of the spe- growing seasons. quefolia), and trumpet honeysuckle cies. Where prescribed burning or (Lonicera sempervirens). Wild gin- Dense, strangling growths of mowing is difficult or undesirable, ger (Asarum canadensis) makes an Japanese honeysuckle can impact Japanese honeysuckle may be excellent ground cover in shady ar- desirable vegetation by decreasing treated with a glyphosate herbicide. eas. All these species are easy to light availability within the habitat, Glyphosate is recommended be- cultivate, have wildlife and aesthetic depleting soil moisture and nutri- cause it is biodegradable and will value, and can generally be obtained ents, or by toppling upright stems begin to break down into harmless from commercial sources or propa- through the sheer weight of accumu- components on contact with the soil. gated by wild-collected seeds or cut- lated vines. Negative effects of Japa- However, it is nonselective and will tings. nese honeysuckle invasion include affect all green vegetation. There- development of malformed trunks in fore it is best applied to the semiev- Written by Dr. Charles E. Williams, trees, suppression of plant growth, ergreen leaves with a spray or wick Department of Biology, Clarion inhibition of regeneration in woody applicator in late autumn when other University and herbaceous , and alter- vegetation is dormant but Japanese References ation of habitats used by native wild- honeysuckle is still physiologically life. active. Reapplication may be nec- Evans, J. E. 1982. Japanese honeysuckle essary to treat plants missed during (Lonicera japonica): A literature review of Control the initial treatment. To be safe and management practices. Natural Areas Small populations can be controlled effective, herbicide use requires Journal 4:4-10. by careful hand-pulling, grubbing careful knowledge of the chemicals, with a hoe or a shovel, and removal appropriate concentrations, and the Harvill, A. M., Jr., et al. 1992. Atlas of the of trailing vines. In old fields and effective method and timing of their Virginia Flora, 2nd ed. Virginia Botanical Associates. Farmville, Va. roadsides, twice yearly mowing can application. Consult a natural re- slow vegetative spread, however, source specialist for more informa- Sather, N. 1988. Lonicera japonica: due to vigorous resprouting, stem tion on herbicide use and prescribed Element stewardship abstract. The Nature density may increase. burning techniques. Conservancy, Minneapolis. In pine plantations or in fire-de- pendent natural communities, Japa- Suggested Alternatives Spongberg, S. 1990. The first Japanese nese honeysuckle can be controlled Some native alternatives to Japanese plants for New England. Arnoldia 50(3): 2-11.

For more information, contact the Department of Conservation and Recreation or the Virginia Native Plant Society.

Virginia Native Plant Society P.O. Box 844, Annandale, VA 22030 1500 E. Main Street, Suite 312, Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 786-7951