Lonicera japonica

Plant Family

Caprifoliaceae

Plant Botanical Name

Lonicera japonica

Photo by: GERALD L. KLINGAMAN

Plant Common Name

Japanese Honeysuckle

General Description

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.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone

  12 - 1

• USDA Hardiness Zone

  4 - 11

• Sunset Zone

  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

• Plant Type

  Vine/Liana

• Sun Exposure

  Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

• Height

  10'-30' / 3.0m - 9.1m

• Bloom Time

  Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer

• Native To

  Eastern Asia

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH

  Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline

• Soil Drainage

  Well Drained

• Soil type

  Clay, Loam, Sand

• Tolerances

  Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction

• Growth Rate

  Fast

• Water Requirements

  Drought Tolerant, Average Water

• Habit

  Vining/Climbing

• Seasonal Interest

  Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest

  Showy

• Flower Color

  White, Yellow

• Flower Color Modifier

  Bicolor

• Fruit Color

  Red, Orange Red

• Foliage Color (Spring)

  Green, Light Green

• Foliage Color (Summer)

  Green, Light Green, Dark Green

• Foliage Color (Fall)

  Green

• Foliage Color (Winter)

  Green

• Bark Color

  Tan

• Fragrant Flowers

  Yes

• Fragrant Fruit

  No

• Fragrant Foliage

  No

• Bark or Stem Fragrant

  No

• Flower Petal Number

  Single

• Repeat Bloomer

  Yes

• Showy Fruit

  No

• Edible Fruit

  No

• Showy Foliage

  No

• Foliage Texture

  Medium

• Foliage Sheen

  Matte

• Evergreen

  Semi-Evergreen

• Showy Bark

  No

Special Characteristics

• Bark Texture

  Exfoliating

• Usage

  Vine

• Sharp or Has Thorns

  No

• Invasive

  Yes

• Attracts

  Birds, Hummingbirds

• Self-Sowing

  Yes