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Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica

Non-Native

Japanese Honeysuckle Locations in North America
Japanese Honeysuckle Locations in Southeast US
japanese honeysuckle close up


USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 280.

What is Japanese Honeysuckle?

Physical Characteristics

  • Evergreen

Leaves:

  • Egg-shaped leaves
  • 1.5-3 inches long

Flowers:

  • Scented
  • Range from white to yellow in color
  • Found in pairs
  • Bloom late April – June

Fruit:

  • Black
  • Berries
  • Found September – November

Seeds:

  • 2-3 egg-shaped seeds per fruit
  • 0.08-0.13 inches long
  • Dark brown-black in color

Stem:

  • 80-100 feet long
  • Woody
  • Vine
  • Younger stems reddish in color and fuzzy
  • Older stems hollow with brownish bark
  • Bark peels in long strips

Where Does it Grow?

Japanese honeysuckle is often found as an ornamental plant in the United States; although, it has become invasive to much of the environment surrounding it.

Is it Invasive?

Japanese honeysuckle is non-native to North America. It is an aggressive invader that out-competes the native vegetation for vital resources and tends to disrupt the ecosystem by pushing the native species out of their habitat.

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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