Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
From Nearctica
Alien: Native of eastern Asia.
Identification: A vine, covering shrubs and trees or creeping along the ground. Flowers yellow or white, fragrant. Stamens protruding. Five petals, lower portions fused into a long tube with 4 petal lobes pointing upward and a single, elongate lobe hanging downward. Berries black with a slight purple tinge. Leaves evergreen, ovate, with smooth outer margins and short petioles.
Distribution: Throughout eastern North America and the southwestern and south-central United States.
Habitat: Japanese Honeysuckle is a weedy species found in thickets, along forest margins, and along roadsides.
Flowering period: April to July.
Similar Species: The white or yellow flowers, vine habit, and ovate, evergreen leaves readily identify this species.
Comments: Japanese Honeysuckle is a pernicious, fast growing, and difficult to eradicate weed. It readily crowds out native plants and can kill trees and shrubs. It should be eradicated whenever possible and never, ever deliberately planted.