Native Plant Alternatives to Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)

Lonicera japonica, also known as Japanese honeysuckle, is considered a highly invasive species in many parts of the world, including the United States.

Native to eastern Asia, Japanese honeysuckle was introduced to the United States in the early 19th century as an ornamental plant and for erosion control. However, it spreads rapidly and can form dense thickets that outcompete native vegetation, alter habitats, and negatively impact wildlife.

Japanese honeysuckle is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.

It is a vine that grows over other plants and structures, smothering them and blocking sunlight. In addition to spreading vegetatively, Japanese honeysuckle also produces a large number of seeds that are dispersed by birds and other animals.

In the United States, it is particularly problematic in the Southeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions, but has spread to many other parts of the country as well.

According to the U.S Forest Service, Invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of U.S. endangered and threatened species and 18% of U.S. endangered or threatened species. Invasive species compete directly with native species for moisture, sunlight, nutrients, and space. They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

The federal government has estimated that nearly 25 percent of the 20,000 plant species native to North America are at risk of extinction, many of these through habitat loss. You can help reverse this trend by planting great native plants in your garden.

A plant is considered native if it occurs naturally in a particular region or ecosystem without human introduction. There are many benefits to growing native plants. First, these plants are better adapted to soils, moisture, and weather than exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world. They need fewer fertilizers and pesticides or use less water. Second, they are unlikely to escape and become invasive, destroying natural habitats. Third, they support wildlife, providing shelter and food for native birds and insects, while exotic plants do not.