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INVASIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH - JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE
If there was just one invasive plant that I wish was not invasive, it would be Japanese Honeysuckle. When my kids were small, we loved picking its flowers, pulling out the middle (which now I know is called the Pistil) and placing a touch of sweet nectar on our tongues. Sure, I would have preferred a pack of Nerds, but this was a sweet and fun moment that seemed to celebrate nature.
Unfortunately, it turns out that Japanese Honeysuckle is a cold blooded killer that climbs, suffocates, and strangles other plants. Despite its good looks and great taste, we do not want it in our neighborhood! The fast-growing vines (over 10 feet per year), which can extend nearly half a football field, kill other plants and trees by girdling, smothering, or causing them to collapse under its weight.
Japanese Honeysuckle spreads through seed dispersion by birds and small mammals as well as by underground shoots, sprouts from the root crown, and above-ground runners. Its leaves are ovate, slightly glossy on the top and slightly hairy on the underside. Stems are reddish in young plants, but woody and up to two inches thick in older ones. The flowers are fragrant, white fading to yellow, and occur in June and July. Its berries are dark purple to black.
Like many invasive plants, it was brought to the US in the early 1800s for its perceived benefits as an ornamental plant that could also be used for erosion control. Now it’s all over the East Coast and beyond! Control is difficult, and for really effective control both mechanical and chemical means need to be employed. Pulling seedings by the roots is effective as long as the entire root is removed, but for larger plants mowing or cutting of the vines needs follow-up with a concentrated herbicide.
When considering removal of Japanese Honeysuckle, it is important to distinguish it from coral honeysuckle and other similar honeysuckles that are not invasive. The common look-alikes have clusters of many flowers, paired leaves that are fused at the stem and bright orange and red fruit.
What you can do:
1. Don’t buy it! The other honeysuckles are prettier, but maybe not as sweet. Still, buy the others and eat a piece of candy!
2. Pull new plants making sure to get the entire root.
3. Cutting and herbicide applications work for larger plants, but this should be done only after learning the proper technique.
4. Join the Forest Lakes Invasive Plant group (FLIP). Email John Oliver for details at johndoliver@comcast.net and join our next invasive workday on November 8th!
- Kathy Smyth, FL Invasive Plant Group (FLIP) Volunteer
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