Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
NEMBA category
English: Japanese Honeysuckle, Honeysuckle, Chinese Honeysuckle, Gold and Silver Flower, Hall’s Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica, commonly known as Japanese Honeysuckle, is a vigorous, twining vine native to East Asia. It is characterised by its fragrant, tubular white and yellow flowers, oval-shaped leaves, and small black berries.
While often planted for its ornamental value and sweet scent, it is a highly invasive alien species particularly in the Western Cape. It spreads rapidly through seeds dispersed by birds and vegetative growth, forming dense mats that smother native vegetation, particularly in forests, grasslands, and along riverbanks.
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Origins: East Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
Overall Appearance: A vigorous, twining vine that can climb over trees, shrubs, and fences up to 10 meters or more.
Leaves: Opposite, simple, oval-shaped leaves. 3-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. Dark green above, paler beneath.
Flowers: Fragrant, tubular flowers that change color from white to yellow as they age. Arranged in pairs at leaf axils and flowing in spring and early summer.
Fruits: Small, black, berry-like fruits.
Seeds: Numerous, small seeds dispersed by birds.
Bark: Brownish bark with longitudinal fissures.
Wood: Woody, but not typically used for timber.
Soil Type: Tolerates a wide range of soil types.
Aspect: Full sun to partial shade.
Edible Parts: Flowers are edible and can be used to make tea.
Poisonous Parts: Berries can be mildly toxic if consumed in large quantities.
Uses:
Ornamental plant (though its invasive nature makes it unsuitable).
Traditional medicine (in some cultures).
Birds Attracted: Attracts birds that consume the berries.
Insects Attracted: Attracts bees and other pollinators to the flowers.
Mammals Attracted: Some mammals may consume the berries.
Provinces Affected: Widespread in South Africa, particularly in coastal and forest areas.
Note: Japanese Honeysuckle is a highly invasive species in South Africa. It forms dense thickets that smother trees, shrubs, and other vegetation, reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem processes. It can also impede wildlife movement and reduce the aesthetic value of natural areas.
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