Japanese honeysuckle.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial vine

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

10 to 30 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Late spring to mid summer

Care

Give this plant plenty of space to climb and prune it back regularly to keep it from taking over your garden. Watch for yellowing leaves which might suggest it needs more sunlight or better drainage. It is quite resilient and handles most soil conditions well.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the growing season.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer once in the spring to support vigorous growth.

Pruning

Trim back the vines after flowering to maintain shape and control its spread.

Repotting

Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.

Soil

Well draining loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 8.0

Temperature

-25 to 35°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

Ingesting the berries may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain in humans.

Pets

The berries and leaves can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Children

The small, dark berries are attractive to children and pose a significant ingestion risk.

Contact allergens

The sap can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The heavy, sweet fragrance of the flowers can trigger allergic reactions in some people.

Edibility

While the flowers are sometimes used in tea, the berries are toxic and should never be consumed.

How to identify it

• Opposite oval shaped leaves
• Fragrant white to yellow flowers
• Twining woody vine stems
• Small black berries in autumn

Height

3 to 9m

Spread

3 to 9m

Leaves

dark green, semi-evergreen

Flowers

white, yellow, 3 to 5cm

Fruit

black, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• Powdery MildewCommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Sooty MoldUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

cuttings, layering, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Because this plant is so aggressive, it is best grown in isolation rather than in a mixed guild.

Grows well with

• Clematis · They share similar light and moisture requirements for vertical growth.

Similar species

• Trumpet Honeysuckle · A much better, non-invasive native alternative for North American gardens.

Science

Family

Caprifoliaceae

Genus

Lonicera

Order

Dipsacales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Eastern Asia

Conservation

It is considered a severe invasive species in many regions and is often prohibited from sale.

It thrives by rapidly climbing over other vegetation to reach sunlight, eventually shading out host plants.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, nesting cover

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds

Uses

ornamental vine, ground cover, erosion control

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it safe to plant in my garden?

Due to its invasive nature, it is strongly recommended to choose native alternatives instead.

How do I stop it from spreading?

Regular pruning and removing the root system are necessary to control its aggressive growth.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors German botanist Adam Lonicer, while the species name refers to its native Japanese origin.

Good to know

• The flowers change color from white to yellow as they age.
• It is known as Japanese honeysuckle in its native range.
• The vines can grow up to 30 feet in a single season under ideal conditions.

Also in

• Plants toxic to cats and dogs