Athens County Invasive Exotics Control Program
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica

Japanese honeysuckle has spread throughout the eastern American woodlands, and is a common problem. It vines up trees but often persists in dense shade as a groundcover. It is spread by birds eating the black berries, then defecating the seeds. This plant has done vast damage to our woodlands, but is still sold in some nurseries (for some reason).

Eradication tips:

It may be controlled by hand-pulling, but each root node next to the ground must be located and pulled. An alternative method is to carefully spray with a diluted herbicide during winter months when it is still green and other plants have died back for the year. Do this with extreme caution: only when no rain is forcast for at least 48 hours, when there is no wind, and use a wand sprayer with an adjustable tip that allows you to highly target the plants. Check the infested area first for other evergreens that may be harmed, including certain orchids and ferns, and be careful not to spray these.