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Gerald L. Klingaman
Caprifoliaceae
Lonicera japonica
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen vine that is native to eastern Asia and has become naturalized across many regions of the United States. It has light to dark green leaves and highly fragrant tubular flowers that are white with lilac markings and age to creamy yellow. These bloom from spring to early summer and are followed by red to orange berry-like fruit that is attractive to birds. The dense foliage of Japanese honeysuckle has no notable fall color.
These vigorous Japanese honeysuckle can tolerate a wide range of soils and light exposures, with most robust growth and flowering in fertile soils in full sun. It is a highly invasive and aggressive plant, in the garden and beyond, so gardeners beware. Left to its own devices, it naturally layers and seeds-in, forming dense complexes of vines. Birds readily eat and spread the seeds across the landscape, too.
Some cultivars have bushier habits, such as the nearly evergreen 'Dart's World', which also sports red flushed flowers. Cultivar 'Halliana' is widely known for its bee-attracting white flowers that fade to yellow. There are many attractive honeysuckle vines that are much tamer and more appropriate for use in the garden landscape, such as the exceptional goldflame honeysuckle, Lonicera x heckrottii or woodbine, Lonicera periclymenum.
12 - 1
4 - 11
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vine/Liana
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
10'-30' / 3.0m - 9.1m
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Eastern Asia
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
Fast
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
White, Yellow
Bicolor
Red, Orange Red
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green, Dark Green
Green
Tan
Yes
No
Single
Medium
Matte
Semi-Evergreen
Exfoliating
Vine
Birds, Hummingbirds
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