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Japanese Honeysuckle
Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Lonicera japonica
Photos: Ku-ring-gai Council Seedling establishing
Description
Originating from China and Japan, Japanese Honeysuckle is a vigorous, fast growing climber. Found in moist gullies. Thin green stems, which root at the nodes and thicken and grow woody with age. Leaves are usually lobed or toothed.
Small yellow cream to white flowers with a pink tinged tube. Flowers occur in pairs in spring and autumn. Small shiny black berries occur in autumn.
Dispersal
Rapidly forms a blanket over shrubs and low canopy trees, blocking light and breaking branches leading to habitat loss.
Control
Manual:
- Honeysuckle grows intertwined with other plants, making it difficult to remove.
- Do not pull out of trees and shrubs because of the damage likely to be caused.
- Dig or rip out, removing as much root as possible.
- Alternatively, stem scrape and paint with a neat glyphosate-based product.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
Suggested alternatives
- "Happy Wanderer" (Hardenbergia vioacea)
- Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana)
- Guinea Flower (Hibbertia scandens)
- Banksia Rose (Rosa banksia)
- Chinese Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- Tylophora barbata - see the Look-a-likes booklet
References
Weeds of Blue Mountains Bushland, Blue Mountains City Council and NPWS Blue Mountains