Plant guide

Japanese honeysuckle.

Lonicera japonica

Pronounced loh-NISS-er-uh juh-PON-ih-kuh

Also known as Chinese Honeysuckle, Gold-and-silver-flower, Golden-and-silver Honeysuckle, Japanese Honeysuckle

This vigorous vine is known for its sweet smelling flowers that change from white to yellow as they age. It is a very hardy grower that can quickly cover fences or trellises. Please be aware that it is considered invasive in many parts of North America.

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

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

Safety

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

How to identify it

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

Science

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Genus: Lonicera
Order: Dipsacales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Is your japanese honeysuckle looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.