Lonicera japonica
Common name: Japanese honeysuckle · golden-and-silver honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica is a vigorous twining vine in the honeysuckle family, native to East Asia including Japan, Korea, and China. It bears fragrant white flowers that age to yellow, followed by small black berries, and its leaves are often semi-evergreen in mild climates. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental climber and ground cover, though it has become invasive in parts of North America and other regions.
Care summary
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Water
Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil
Average, well-drained; tolerates poor soils
Hardiness
Zones 4–9
Mature height
About 500–900 cm (16–30 ft) as a climbing vine
Pet safe
No — berries are mildly toxic if eaten
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Roots readily from semi-ripe stem cuttings taken in summer: cut 10 cm sections below a node, remove the lower leaves, and keep them in moist compost until rooted. It also layers naturally - pin a low stem to the soil and sever it once rooted.
Fun facts
- Its Chinese name, jin yin hua ("gold-silver flower"), refers to the blooms opening white and aging to yellow.
- The dried flowers have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Children often pull the flower's style through the corolla to sip the tiny drop of nectar.
- It is listed as a serious invasive weed in the eastern United States, where it smothers native vegetation.