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Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

FACT SHEET: JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE

Japanese Honeysuckle 

Lonicera japonica Thunb. 

Honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

Japan and Korea 

DESCRIPTION 

Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial vine that climbs by twisting its stems around 

vertical structures, including limbs and trunks of shrubs and small trees. Leaves are 

oblong to oval, sometimes lobed, have short stalks, and occur in pairs along the stem. 

In southern and mid-Atlantic states, Japanese honeysuckle often remains evergreen – 

its leaves remain attached through the winter. In colder northern climates, the leaves 

may fall off after exposure to prolonged winter temperatures. Flowers are tubular, with 

five fused petals, white to pink, turning yellow with age, very fragrant, and occur in 

pairs along the stem at leaf junctures. Stems and leaves are sometimes covered with 

fine, soft hairs. Japanese honeysuckle blooms from late April through July and 

sometimes into October. Small black fruits are produced in autumn, each containing 2-

3 oval to oblong, dark brown seeds about 1⁄4 inch across. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

In North America, Japanese honeysuckle has few natural enemies which allows it to spread widely and out-compete 

native plant species. Its evergreen to semi-evergreen nature gives it an added advantage over native species in many 

areas. Shrubs and young trees can be killed by girdling when vines twist tightly around stems and trunks, cutting off the 

flow of water through the plant. Dense growths of honeysuckle covering vegetation can gradually kill plants by blocking 

sunlight from reaching their leaves. Vigorous root competition also helps Japanese honeysuckle spread and displace 

neighboring native vegetation. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

Japanese honeysuckle occurs across the southern U.S. from California to New 

England and the Great Lakes region. Escaped populations also occur in 

Hawaii. Severe winter temperatures and low precipitation may limit its 

distribution in northern latitudes and in the West, respectively. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

A ubiquitous invader, Japanese honeysuckle thrives in a wide variety of 

habitats including fields, forests, wetlands, barrens, and all types of disturbed 

lands. 

BACKGROUND 

Japanese honeysuckle was introduced to the U.S. in the early to mid-1800s as an ornamental plant, for erosion control, 

and for wildlife forage and cover. Its highly fragrant flowers provide a tiny drop of honey-flavored nectar enjoyed by 

children. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Growth and spread of Japanese honeysuckle is through vegetative (plant growth) and sexual (seed) means. It produces 

long vegetative runners that develop roots where stem and leaf junctions (nodes) come in contact with moist soil. 

Underground stems (rhizomes) help to establish and spread the plant locally. Long distance dispersal is by birds and 

other wildlife that readily consume the fruits and defecate the seeds at various distances from the parent plant. 
20 May 2005 Page 2 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

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MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

Several effective methods of control are available for Japanese honeysuckle, including chemical and non-chemical, 

depending on the extent of the infestation and available time and labor. 

Manual and Mechanical 

For small patches, repeated pulling of entire vines and root systems may be effective. Hand pull seedlings and young 

plants when the soil is moist, holding low on the stem to remove the whole plant along with its roots. Monitor frequently 

and remove any new plants. Cut and remove twining vines to prevent them from girdling and killing shrubs and other 

plants. An effective method for removal of patches of honeysuckle covering the ground is to lift up and hold a portion of 

the vine mass with a rake and have a chain saw operator cut the stems low to the ground. Mowing large patches of 

honeysuckle may be useful if repeated regularly but is most effective when combined with herbicide application (see 

below). Mow at twice a year, first in mid-July and again in mid-September. Plants can also be grubbed out using a pulaski 

or similar digging tool, taking care to remove all roots and runners. Burning removes above ground vegetation but does 

not kill the underground rhizomes, which will continue to sprout. In certain situations, tethered goats have been used to 

remove honeysuckle growth, but must be monitored to prevent their escape to the wild where they would become an 

added ecological threat. 

Chemical 

In moderate cold climates, Japanese honeysuckle leaves continue to photosynthesize long after most other plants have 

lost their leaves. This allows for application of herbicides when many native species are dormant. However, for effective 

control with herbicides, healthy green leaves must be present at application time and temperatures must be sufficient for 

plant activity. Several systemic herbicides (e.g., glyphosate and triclopyr) move through the plant to the roots when 

applied to the leaves or stems and have been used effectively on Japanese honeysuckle. 

Following label guidelines, apply a 2.5% rate of glyphosate (e.g., Rodeo® for wetlands; Roundup® for uplands) mixed 

with water and an appropriate surfactant, to foliage from spring through fall. Alternatively, apply a 2% concentration of 

triclopyr (e.g., Garlon® 3A) plus water to foliage, thoroughly wetting the leaves but not to the point of drip-off. A coarse, 

low-pressure spray should be used. Repeat applications may be needed. Treatment in the fall, when many non-target 

plants are going dormant, is best. Also, a 25% glyphosate or triclopyr solution mixed with water can be applied to cut stem 

surfaces any time of year as long as the ground is not frozen. 

Biological control 

No biological control agents are currently available for Japanese honeysuckle. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

CONTACTS 

For more information on the management of Japanese honeysuckle, please contact: 

• Lisa Jameson, National Park Service, Washington, DC; lisa_jameson at nps.gov 

• Corey Kudrna, National Park Service, Washington, DC; corey_kudrna at nps.gov 

• Vikki Nuzzo, Cornell University; vnuzzo at earthlink.net 

• Ann Rhoads, University of PA, Morris Arboretum; rhoadsaf at pobox.upenn.edu 

• Sue Salmons, National Park Service; sue_salmons at nps.gov 

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS 

Vines that make good substitutes for Japanese honeysuckle include false jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens), trumpet 

honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans), crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), native 

wisteria (Wisteria frutescens), jackman clematis (Clematis jackmanii), and others. Check with your state native plant 

society, a reputable native plant nursery, for recommendations for plants that are appropriate for your area and conditions. 
20 May 2005 Page 3 of 3 

Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.invasive.org/search/action.cfm?q=Lonicera%20japonica 

• http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=65 

• http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/lonicera_japonica.htm

AUTHOR 

Melissa A. Bravo, National Park Service, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites, Hyde Park, NY 

EDITOR

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Center for Urban Ecology, Washington, DC 

REVIEWERS

Sylvan Kaufman, Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely, MD 

Corey Kudrna, National Park Service, Washington, DC 

Vikki Nuzzo, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 

PHOTOGRAPH 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Center for Urban Ecology, Washington, DC 

REFERENCES 

Barden, L. S. and J. F. Matthews. 1980. Change in abundance of honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) and other ground flora 

after prescribed burning of a piedmont pine forest. Castanea 45: 257-260. 

Dillenberg L.R., D.F. Whigham, A.H. Teramura, I.N. Forseth. 1993. Effects of below- and aboveground competition from 

the vines Lonicera japonica and Parthenocissus quinquefolia on the growth of the tree host Liquadambar 

stryraciflua. Oecologia 93:48-54. 

Fernald, M. L. 1989. Grays Manual of Botany. Biosystematics, Floristic and Phylogeny Series. Volume 2. T. R. Dudley, 

Editor. Dioscorides Press. Portland, OR. 1,632 pp. 

Gleason H. A. and A. Cronquist. The Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual of Vascular Plants of 

Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanic Garden, New York, NY. 937 pp. 

Kartesz, J. and C. Meacham Synthesis of the North American Flora. 

Nuzzo, V. Japanese honeysuckle. Element stewardship abstract for Lonicera japonica. The Nature Conservancy. 1815 

North Lynn Street, Arlington VA, 22209. http://www.imapinvasives.org/GIST/ESA/. Last updated April 15, 1997. 

Regehr, D. L. and D. R. Frey. 1988. Selective control of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). Weed Technology 

2:139-143. 

Rhoads, A. F. and T. H. Block. 2002. The Plants of Pennsylvania, An Illustrated Manual. Morris Arboretum of the 

University of Pennsylvania. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, PA. 1060 pp. 

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Japanese Honeysuckle 

(Lonicera japonica). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=3039. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. 

Virginia Native Plant Society VA NHP Japanese Honeysuckle Fact Sheet http://www.vnps.org/invasive/invloni.htm