Japanese Honeysuckle - Lonicera japonica
Japanese Honeysuckle occurs statewide. It is on the worst pest list for The Nature Conservancy's North Carolina Piedmont region. Japanese honeysuckle grows in varied habitats and spreads by seed and runners. When not completely pulled, it regenerates from any remaining plant parts.
Honeysuckle vines grow to 30 feet and underground runners to 45 feet. Above ground, honeysuckle climbs, smothers, and constricts. It is also competitive below-ground. Japanese honeysuckle continues to photosynthesize throughout the winter. It grows most vigorously in full sun, and aggressively claims forest openings where it inhibits regeneration.
Oval, evergreen, leaves are paired along reddish stems. Leaves are 1 to 2.5 inches long. Leaves of new shoots are often lobed. In Japanese honeysuckle, the pair of leaves at the end of the stems is separate; in native honeysuckle, the stem grows through the joined leaf pair at the end. White to yellow flowers bloom from April through August. Berries are black and attractive to birds and rabbits. Native species have red to orange berries.
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