Japanese Honeysuckle

Lonicera japonica

Found in nearly ubiquitous, especially common in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain and in moist habitats. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you

-85

Severe harm

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height: 16–29.5 feet
Spread: 3–6 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

See native alternatives

Lonicera japonica — flower photograph — (c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

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Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow, orange or red.
Published recommendation: Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC)
Virginia Virgin's-bower
Clematis virginiana
Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: White.
Published recommendation: South Carolina Native Plant Society, Lowcountry Chapter
Wild Potato-vine
Ipomoea pandurata
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Purple, red or white.
Similar growth form, height, spread

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen
Bloom: Late spring
Fruiting season: August to October

Recorded in 46 Florida counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 160 animals.

Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
Birds. 2 shared habitats
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Birds. 2 shared habitats
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Worm-eating Warbler
Helmitheros vermivorum
Birds. 2 shared habitats
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Birds. 2 shared habitats
American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Dendroica caerulescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-throated Green Warbler
Dendroica virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Florida

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

29CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Lonicera

Hemaris diffinisSnowberry Clearwing
Hemaris thysbeHummingbird Clearwing
Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Archips negundanaLarger Boxelder Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Callizzia amorataGray Scoopwing
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper

Show all 29

Egira alternansAlternate Woodling
Euphydryas phaetonThe Baltimore, The Black Checker
Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Hypercompe scriboniaGiant Leopard Moth, Great Leopard Moth
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Leucania pilipalpisZippered Wainscot
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Sympistis badistrigaBrown-Lined Sallow
Uresiphita reversalisGenista Caterpillar, Genista Cbroom Moth
Opostegoides scioterma

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

10BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Lonicera

Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
Ixoreus naeviusVaried Thrush
Mimus polyglottosNorthern Mockingbird
Myadestes townsendiTownsend's Solitaire
Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak
Pipilo maculatusSpotted Towhee
Turdus migratoriusAmerican Robin
Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Caprifoliaceae
Hardiness: Zones 5a–8b
Soil pH: Acidic to alkaline
Flower color: Yellow or white
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Spreads by runners
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: August
Fruit ends: October

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Late spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “Yellow or white” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “August” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Growth habit · “Spreads by runners” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 5a–8b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “16–29.5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
Leaves · “Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Occasionally dry; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Japanese Honey Suckle

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source