Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) - Identification & Control June 9, 2020

Japanese Honeysuckle is a highly invasive, non-native plant that has a significant negative impact on our native woodlands. We discuss its identification, history, foraging potential, and control (including mechanical pulling and the use of glyphosate). Join the Woodland Steward in this visit to Oak Haven, a 60-acre private woodland in Southwest Ohio near Cincinnati.

[@richardhenrysr5029]

we love our honeysuckle down in southeast texas and southern louisiana. it's so fragrant just like our magnolia trees and without them it would upend our birds & bees energy sources. they don't mind sharing...anywhere i walked as a kid there was bushes everywhere to sip like a mint julip! we wouldn't dream of tearing them down!

[@alexandrablue4709]

Such an informative video! Thank you.

[@denizcansevercevirileri]

its really popular here and we call it "Hanımeli" that means "Lady's hand". It stands in front of many houses's doors. i love honeysuckle's smell

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

It smells wonderful, and serves a purpose in its native habitat. Outside of its native range, though, it is very invasive and detrimental to the native ecosystem.

[@denizcansevercevirileri]

@@TheWoodlandSteward thank you sir 😊

[@spacecatboy2962]

so what we need is for our national pass time to be going out and getting rid of these invasive plants. Get out in nature, hike, a workout, and do battle with these plants. Sort of like a sport, a hobby.

[@frankrizo5387]

I have had a smallish one along a chain link fence for 2 years. It did survive the recent freezes, but has yet to produce a bloom.

[@heyyou8248]

If I'm trying to do some control in the late fall (now) what are my best tactics. I think you mentioned there was a certain time that you could carefully spray some. At what time of year is that? In Central Illinois and have a couple areas that are massive so want to stop it before it gets another good season of growth.

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

I always prefer to cut a stem and treat just the cut surface when possible. Unfortunately, with Japanese Honeysuckle it is a challenge to find all of the stems. As long as it is actively growing you should be able to spray the leaves with a 2% glyphosate (or something similar). The problem with foliar applications is that you get the herbicide on non-target species. Right now there shouldn't be too much else out to be impacted. Let us know how it goes.

[@bonsaihorn]

I've been on a vendetta against invasives, taking care of stiltgrass and perilla right now, but there is plenty of honeysuckle that is going to get yanked out after all of the annuals die

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

Good job!

[@blakespower]

is that what those are? or is there a similar plant? I have tree cages and these vines always grow up the sides have to rip them up like twice a year before they become too thick and hard to remove I guess if I let them grow they will produce honeysuckle flowers

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

They are prolific!

[@realtriplev]

Where are the seeds at on honey suckle?

[@haleymiller7905]

I also would like to know

[@dinman1000]

Can you cut this while it is flowering?

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

Cutting while flowering is fine. I would treat the cut stem with glyphosate or triclopyr. Try not to let it go to seed.

[@homemonitor9515]

These creepers can get large 2-3" diameter choking large trees. Don't be fascinated by flowers and effervescence. 😁

[@markjones5561]

Have this in abundance. I try to spray in spring before anything else is growing, but spend winter yanking out the larger examples that are winding around trees and bushes. Probably not the best way, but It has certainly saved a few trees and bushes. The plan is to go around and kill off any new sprouts when spring comes. Some of these vines have been huge. Not as big as the massive oriental bittersweet, which can be larger in circumference than my arm, but enough to girdle large trees. I have heard some deer hunters plant this to attract deer. If so, it doesn't work :) Deer will nibble pretty much anything once, but they make no headway with this plant. Never seen any evidence of deer eating this, and we have easily over 30-40 deer per square mile here. The larger examples of this honeysuckle are easier to deal with I believe, but some areas of the woods are carpeted with this. Slowly, SLOWLY I am making headway. As usual some really good advice in this video. Thank you!

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

Thanks for the update, Mark. It's good that you are making headway. Keep plugging away!

[@bowlampar]

I collected their toxin and study them in my personal collection, trying to create an antidot for people being poisoned by them. 🤫🤫

[@Kispoopsik]

You lost me at glyphosate.

[@TubeNutriDoc]

This plant is one of the primary herbs/flowers used in treating viruses like the corona virus.

[@TheWoodlandSteward]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

Source?