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Lonicera japonica

Common Name: Japanese honeysuckle

Family: Caprifoliaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a-9b

Growth Habit: Woody, twining vine

Origin: Japan

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: 1906

IFAS Assessment:

  • North: INVASIVE
  • Central: INVASIVE
  • South: INVASIVE
Flowering vine, with older flowers turning yellow.
Brenda Herring
Vigorous growth of Japanese honeysuckle smothering the groundcover and clambering into trees.
Brenda Herring

Description

Woody, evergreen, twining vine. Stems 25 to 36 m long. Younger stems red, slightly pubescent, and older stems have brown bark that peels. Leaves are oval, 3.7 cm long, opposite. Flowers are tubular, white turning yellow with age, fragrant. Fruits are black berries.

Habitat

Ruderal, open disturbed areas, and forests.

Comments

Colonizes in open areas quickly. Birds consume fruits and disperse the seeds. Develops large seed bank, and has broad habitat adaptability.

Map of species distribution

Control Methods

  • Manual: Mechanical: removal of vines by hand-pulling or hoeing is effective for small occurrences. Mowing can slow growth but may cause re-sprouting. Prescribed fire can help control Japanese honeysuckle in areas known to burn.
  • Chemical: Foliar (3-5% triclopyr amine, 1-3% glyphosate).
  • Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Dave's Garden. 2017. PlantFiles. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1641/Accessed September 19, 2017.

IFAS, UF. 2017. Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Lonicera japonica. https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/lonicera-japonica/Accessed September 19, 2017.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2017. Lonicera japonica. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/lonicera-japonica/Accessed September 19, 2017.

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