Invasive Species Spotlight: Bush Honeysuckle
Exotic bush honeysuckles, originally native to parts of Eurasia—including Japan, China, Korea, Turkey, and southern Russia—were introduced to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially, these shrubs were sought as ornamentals, used for erosion control, or chosen to create wildlife cover. Over time, their fast-growing nature turned problematic and they outcompeted native plants, disrupting local ecosystems. The most prevalent species in Eastern North America are Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), and Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica).
Characteristics
Bush honeysuckles are upright, deciduous shrubs that typically range from 6 to 15 feet in height. They are recognized by their egg-shaped leaves and fragrant tubular flowers that bloom in shades of white, pink, or red, appearing in pairs. By late summer to autumn, they produce clusters of multi-seeded red or orange berries. These shrubs are shade-intolerant and thrive in disturbed areas such as woodland edges, roadsides, meadows, and construction sites. Their ability to quickly dominate sunlight-abundant environments makes them especially challenging to control.
Invasive Nature
These species are among the first to leaf out in spring and the last to drop its leaves in fall, giving them a competitive advantage. Bush honeysuckles exhibit prolific growth, producing fruits that are readily consumed and dispersed by birds, leading to rapid spread across landscapes. Once established, bush honeysuckles outcompete native vegetation for essential resources like sunlight, moisture, and pollinators. In turn, this reduces biodiversity and disrupts natural plant communities, hindering the regeneration of native forests. Their dense growth habit can create monocultures that suppress understory growth and contribute to a decline in native fauna, as their fruit lacks the necessary lipids and proteins for many bird species.
Control Methods
Winter is the time to apply control methods to address bush honeysuckle infestations. Small plants and seedlings can be removed by hand, ensuring minimal soil disturbance to reduce regrowth potential. Repeated cutting or mowing must occur annually, as bush honeysuckles tend to return even denser after a single cut. On its own, this approach may suffice in shaded environments where honeysuckles are less resilient but combining manual and chemical strategies is the most effective.
Exotic bush honeysuckles are most effectively managed using a combination of mechanical removal and herbicide application. Mature plants should be cut to ground level, followed by treating the freshly cut stumps with a glyphosate (e.g., Roundup) or triclopyr (e.g. Garlon) concentration to prevent regrowth. If a shrub is cut and the stump isn’t treated, resprouts can be sprayed with a 2% foliar application of either glyphosate or triclopyr. If seedlings are present, they can either be pulled by hand or treated with a foliar 2% solution.
Native Shrub Alternatives
Consider planting native shrubs in place of bush honeysuckle. Options include diervilla (Diervilla spp.), viburnums (Viburnum spp.), American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), and snowberries (Symphoricarpos spp.). Native species are better suited to support local ecosystems, providing food and shelter for a wider range of wildlife while maintaining balanced plant communities.
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