Japanese Honeysuckle Height & Spread

Identification

• Japanese honeysuckle is a vine that sprawls more than climbs. It can be trained up a support structure and spreads out by branching and from rhizomes. The plant has simple oval leaves that come to a point and may be 1 1/2 to 3 inches long. Tender young growth is reddish-brown and slightly furred but matures to a dark brown smooth bark and becomes woody. The attractive flowers are tube shaped, white with some pink and become yellowish as they age. Little 1/4-inch-long black fruits appear in fall and bear a large seed.

Habitat

• Japanese honeysuckle is native to Asia. It thrives in temperate climates and moist soils although it can tolerate short periods of drought if it is well-established. In its natural habitat, it is found in forests, flood plains and fields. The plant is fast growing and is able to cover entire thickets of shrubs in one season. Japanese honeysuckle grows best in full sun but can also be grown in dappled shade with some sacrifice of blooms.

Dimensions

• The Japanese honeysuckle is a many branched vine type plant. It has numerous stems and a suckering habit. Each secondary stem may grow 6 to 10 feet long, creating a tangle of growth that easily takes over any space. New growth comes off the primary stems or from the underground rhizome system. The base stem becomes 30 feet long in perfect growing conditions but can be pruned to reduce the length. Annual maintenance is necessary at least twice per year to prevent overgrowth and confine existing growth.

Native Honeysuckles

• Japanese honeysuckle is an exotic Lonicera, but several types of the vine are native to North America. Among these are grape, yellow, hairy and red honeysuckle. The native species have fused leaves, which distinguishes them from the invasive Japanese variety. Japanese honeysuckle was introduced to the United States in the 1800s as an ornamental but also as fast-growing forage for wildlife. Its vigorous growth has made it a pest in many natural and open locations.