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GREATjU RIVERlRIPW GREENING Honeysuckle (Lonicera tartarica, L. morrowii, L. x bella) Description Invasive honeysuckles most often occur on forest edges and interiors, but also occur on fallow agricultural land, and road and rail rights -of -way. They grow in poor to well -drained soils. Exotic honeysuckles replace native forest shrubs and herbaceous plants by their invasive nature. They leaf out early, shade out herbaceous ground cover and deplete soil moisture. Research suggests that honeysuckles inhibit the growth of nearby plants through allelopathy. Honeysuckle reproduces primarily via seeds which are dispersed by birds that eat the fruits. Honeysuckle is one of the first plants to leaf out in the spring and one of the last to retain its leaves in the fall. It is challenging to correctly identify L. tatarica, L. morrowii, or the hybrid, L. x bella. Since they are managed the same way, it is not necessary to make a positive identification. Lonicera tatarica (native to central Russia) has 1-2.5 inch long, glabrous, ovate to oblong leaves. Its white -pink flowers are glabrous. Fruits are red or rarely yellow. Height reaches 9 feet. The gray -green leaves of Lonicera morrowii (native to Japan) are soft -pubescent beneath. Flowers are pubescent, white fading to yellow on densely hairy peduncles. Fruits are red. Height reaches 6 feet. The hybrid L. x bella has intermediate characteristics. Leaves are slightly hairy beneath. Flowers are pink fading to yellow, on sparsely hairy peduncles. Fruits are red or rarely yellow. Height can reach 15 feet. Mechanical Brush mowing or cutting honeysuckle without herbicide treatment is ineffective unless done continuously for several years. The lower branches tend to grow horizontally along the ground, making it challenging for mowers to effectively cut the plant. Combining mowing with a fall herbicide application is very effective. Repeated prescribed fire will kill young honeysuckles and potentially girdle and top kill larger plants. However, carrying fire through areas of high infestation is a challenge because of insufficient fuel. Combining prescribed fire with other control methods is preferable. Chemical Cut -stump treatment with glyphosate or triclopyr is effective at controlling honeysuckle. The herbicide should be applied to the stump without delay for optimal effectiveness. Honeysuckle can be difficult to control due to its ability to layer. Layering occurs when plant stems lay on moist ground and root from adventitious buds. If all of the rooted stems are not cut and treated, honeysuckle may survive cut stump treatment. Foliar herbicide treatments can also be effective, but care needs to be taken to avoid collateral damage to native species. Timing foliar treatments using glyphosate or triclopyr while native species are dormant is necessary to minimize damage to desirable species. Long-term Management Long-term management focus should be on minimizing seed dispersal via monitoring and on -going management efforts. Honevsuckle Dec - April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Mar Burn Foliar Herbicide Basal Bark Herbicide Cut Stem Herbicide Flowering