A Tale of Two Vines

There are two types of honeysuckle vine in Forest Hill Park. One, the Japanese honeysuckle, is well known and loved by many. You may have never heard of the other. Here are their stories.

The Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera spp., was introduced to this country after European settlement as an ornamental and for wildlife value. For a while after introduction it lived wherever it was planted just as peonies, gardenias, and such plants live in our gardens today. And then, as seeds were transported by birds and other critters, this plant began to spread far and wide, covering and threatening shrubs, trees, anything in its path. Instead of being known for the sweet fragrance on a warm summer day or for the flowers’ taste of sweet nectar, it should be known as a very aggressive non-native species that is a threat to our environment.

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