Though once grown as an ornamental, there's nothing pretty about a Japanese honeysuckle takeover. Here's how to remove this invasive plant.
Get Rid of Invasive Japanese Honeysuckle Plants
Published on Jun. 17, 2025
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How to Identify Japanese Honeysuckle
You definitely don’t want to grow this non-native, invasive plant in your yard, despite the fact that it was once grown as an ornamental. The rapidly spreading vines of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) climb up and eventually kill trees, flowers, and beneficial native plants.
To identify it, look for oval-shaped green leaves between approximately 1 1/2 and 3 inches in length. White, pink, or yellowish tube-shaped flowers grow in late spring. The vine produces black berries in early to mid-fall.
Differentiate this invasive from similar-looking native honeysuckle plants by its dark-colored berries and lack of fused leaves.
Japanese honeysuckle commonly grows in places like woodland borders, rocky slopes, and roadsides. The vine can grow up to 120 feet.
Control and Eradication
Multiple methods exist to get rid of Japanese honeysuckle, depending on the extent of the problem.
Small plants can be weeded and discarded; follow the policy of your local municipality. Avoid adding invasives to your compost pile.
You’ll need to take a different approach for larger specimens. The Missouri Department of Conservation mentions that this vine’s semi-evergreen habit makes identification and treatment possible when other vegetation is dormant. They consider glyphosate herbicide (Roundup) the first choice of treatment. They remind gardeners to only spray herbicides on the invasive plants. Apply the product in fall after other vegetation has gone dormant, but before the first freeze arrives.
In your backyard, aim to pull vines by hand before they bear fruit, or to cut them. Apply a 20 percent solution of glyphosate or undiluted Garlon 4 to cut vines to prevent them from regrowing.
You can also cut the plant completely to the ground and apply a total vegetation killer to the stump. Always read and follow label instructions carefully.
What to Plant Instead of Japanese Honeysuckle
While it’s definitely no longer recommended to plant Japanese honeysuckle as an ornamental — and it’s illegal to plant in multiple states — there are several beneficial plants gardeners can add to their gardens instead. The U.S. Forest Service recommends Carolina jasmine, sweetbay magnolia, and purple passionflower as native, sweet-smelling alternatives to add to your backyard.
Gardeners might also consider native coral honeysuckle, which also features colorful, tubular flowers and brings in hummingbirds. Similarly to Japanese honeysuckle, it also offers berries in the fall.
Read on: Hummingbirds flock to trumpet vine—but is it invasive?
Sources
- Missouri Department of Conservation, “Japanese Honeysuckle Control” and “Japanese Honeysuckle“
- University of Connecticut, “Invasive Plant Factsheet: Japanese Honeysuckle“
- U.S. Forest Service, “Native Plant Alternatives“
