# Japanese honeysuckle (*Lonicera japonica*) Japanese honeysuckle is a sweet-smelling plant that grows quickly and can climb up trees and fences. Its pretty flowers attract butterflies and bees, making gardens lively and colorful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 42 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Japanese honeysuckle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Honeysuckle_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: William Rafti of the William Rafti Institute, aka Rafti Institute at en.wikipedia . Original watermark removed by Ms. havisham at en.wikiped, Attribution · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Honeysuckle_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Japanese honeysuckle is a vigorous woody vine with opposing oval, dark green leaves. Its tubular flowers emerge white, fading to a creamy yellow, and are highly fragrant. It produces small, glossy black berries in the fall. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Dipsacales - **Family:** Caprifoliaceae - **Genus:** Lonicera ## Interesting facts - In some countries, it's considered an 'alien invader' because it grows so quickly! - Its leaves can stay green all winter in warm places, giving it a secret advantage! - The sweet, nectar-filled flowers are a favorite treat for hummingbirds and butterflies! - This powerful vine can wrap around trees, sometimes even blocking their sunlight! ## Special abilities - **Vigorous Climber:** Japanese honeysuckle can twist its stems around other plants or structures to climb high and reach sunlight. - **Rapid Spreader:** It grows extremely fast, allowing it to quickly cover large areas and outcompete other native plants. - **Night Perfume:** Its highly fragrant flowers release a strong, sweet scent at dusk, attracting nocturnal moths for pollination. - **Birdseed Factory:** It produces abundant black berries, providing food for birds and ensuring its seeds are widely dispersed. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats its dark berries, aiding seed dispersal. - **Pollinates:** White-lined Sphinx Moth (*Hyles lineata*) — visits its fragrant flowers for nectar at dusk. - **Shelter:** [Northern Cardinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-cardinal) (*Cardinalis cardinalis*) — builds nests within its dense, protective vines. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — gathers nectar and pollen from its sweet blooms. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low While the flowers are safe to smell, don't eat any parts of the plant without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Japanese honeysuckle? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Japanese honeysuckle? 300-900 cm ### How big are the flowers on Japanese honeysuckle? 2-4 cm ### When does Japanese honeysuckle bloom? Late spring to fall ### Is Japanese honeysuckle edible? Yes ### Is Japanese honeysuckle toxic? Mild ### What is Japanese honeysuckle's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Japanese honeysuckle pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Cedarville State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarville-state-forest) — Maryland, US · Forest [View all places to see Japanese honeysuckle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/japanese-honeysuckle) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Japanese honeysuckle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/japanese-honeysuckle)