|
Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera
japonica
Identification
Climbing or
running perennial vine. Leaves are arranged oppositely on
vines and are oblong to oval, sometimes being lobed. The older
growth vines are somewhat brittle with a thin, cream colored,
peeling bark. The flowers are tubular with five fused petals,
occurring in summer and being white or pink, turning yellow with
age. The fruit is small and dark in color and contains two to three
seeds. It is evergreen in all but the coldest climates. Japanese
Honeysuckle climbs shrubs, trees, and other vertical surfaces in
order to reach sunlight. Lacking tendrils, it accomplishes this by
wrapping its vines around vertical surfaces.
Origin
Japan and Korea
Habitat
Grows well in a
variety of conditions. Seems to do best in full or part sun but it
can handle partial shade. When located in shade, it climbs
aggressively to reach sunlight.
Ecological Threat
Japanese
honeysuckle is a very serious invasive plant. It very aggressively
competes with all other plant life in the areas that it infests, and
usually quickly becomes dominant. Its aggressive climbing nature
causes heavy damage to nearby trees and shrubs, and mortality of the
tree or shrub usually soon follows. Some trees are girdled by
honeysuckle vines by squeezing and cutting off the water supply of
the plant. It has the advantage of being semi-evergreen as well, and
if located in at least part sun, it will out-compete even the
hardiest native species. It also out-competes other invasive plants.
Recommended Native Alternatives
-
Trumpet
honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
-
Trumpet
creeper (Campsis radicans)
-
Crossvine (Bignonia
capreolata)
These pages are designed to give the
layperson a general overview of non-native invasive plants commonly
found in the upper Hiwassee River watershed. For more comprehensive
and technical information about a particular species, visit one of
the web sites from our
Links
page. |
