Mid-Atlantic Invaders Tool

Japanese honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica

Thunb.

Taxon, Habit: Plant, Vine

Habitat: Terrestrial/Wetland

U.S. Nativity: Introduced

Species Synonym(s): None

Common Name(s): Chinese honeysuckle

Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family)

Family Synonym(s): None

Native Range (GRIN):

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Flower

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Flower

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Foliage

James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Foliage

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Plant

Tom Heutte, USDA Forest Service

Foliage

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Flower

Troy Evans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Fruit

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Fruit

James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society

Seed

Bruce Ackley, The Ohio State University

Twig/Shoot

James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service

Plant

Chris Evans, University of Illinois

Plant

Charles T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service

Infestation

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Infestation

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Infestation

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Infestation

Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia

Plant

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Plant

USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Description

Appearance
Lonicera japonica is a woody perennial, evergreen to semi-evergreen vine that can be found either trailing or climbing to over 80 ft. (24 m) in length. Young stems may be pubescent while older stems are glabrous.
Foliage
Leaves are opposite, pubescent, oval and 1-2.5 in. (2.5-6.4 cm) long. Margins are usually entire but young leaves may be lobed or toothed.
Flowers
Flowering occurs from April to July, when showy, fragrant, tubular, whitish-pink flowers develop in the axils of the leaves. The flowers turn cream-yellow as they age.
Fruit
The small shiny globular fruits turn from green to black as they ripen. Each fruit contains 2-3 small brown to black ovate seeds.
Ecological Threat
Lonicera japonica invades a wide variety of habitats including forest floors, canopies, roadsides, wetlands, and disturbed areas. It can girdle small saplings by twining around them, and can form dense mats in the canopies of trees, shading everything below. A native of eastern Asia, it was first introduced into North America in 1806 in Long Island, NY. Lonicera japonica has been planted widely throughout the United States as an ornamental, for erosion control, and for wildlife habitat.

Uses

Landscape Ornamental Use (GRIN): Yes

All Uses (GRIN): Ornamental, Potential seed contaminant

Distribution Map (EDDMapS)

Wetland Indicator

Summary: Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a Terrestrial/Wetland species.

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (AGCP):

Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain regions

Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP):

Mid-Atlantic Piedmont and Mountain regions

Northcentral and Northeast (NCNE):

Northern parts of PA and NJ (and beyond)


Legend (data from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

OBL (Obligate wetland): Almost always occurs in wetlands (estimated probability > 99%) under natural conditions

FACW (Facultative wetland): Usually occurs in wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands

FAC (Facultative): Equally likely to occur in wetlands (estimated probability 34% - 66%) or non-wetlands

FACU (Facultative upland): Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67% - 99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability 1% - 33%)

UPL (Obligate upland): Occur almost always (estimated probability > 99%) in non-wetlands under natural conditions

Taxonomic Rank

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Lonicera
Subject: Lonicera japonica Thunb.

Resources