Japanese Honeysuckle

History

Honeysuckle is a both a vining and bush plant with over 300 species which has naturalized in the northern hemisphere throughout the world. About 100 of these species are edible of which a dozen or so are used medicinally. There is a bit of a variance between the species as to which parts are edible. In some species the berries are edible and others are poisonous. Therefore, we are going to refer to the most commonly used species of honeysuckle which is Lonicerra japonica. These species has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is prized for its antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lonicerra japonica was introduced to the United States in 1806 when it was brought to New York as an ornamental plant. As early as 1898 it was reported to have escaped its cultivated use and soon after we discovered what a vigorous invasive stealth Lonicerra japonica possessed beneath its intoxicating perfumed scent. Honeysuckle twists around its host plant growing up to 30 feet tall in its preferred sunny locations. She digs her roots 3 foot deep into the earth while extending them 10 feet across as if she is just daring for us to try to uproot her. She spreads by seeds, underground rhizomes and runners in her attempt to spread her vines. I have cut her to the ground many times after unwinding her sprawling vines around the bushes in my backyard, only to find her sprawled around them again the next year. It seems we must pick her fragrant delicate petals to capture the spirit of her ambition and add it to our apothecary of medicinal herbs. It is important to not confuse honeysuckle with the American native which is poisonous. The Japanese variety we are visiting today in our discussion has leaves that are leathery and opposite with ovate shape and smooth edges. The berries are black compared to the orange-red berries of the native variety. Her flowers bloom somewhere from April to July and are a white and yellow color and run in pairs along the stem. Her vine has peeling brown bark.