The Japanese Honeysuckle
Invasive Species : by Matthew Harper
A little bit about the Japanese Honeysuckle...
it is an extremely rapidly growing plant that has been classified in North Carolina and several other countries and states as an invasive species or, "pest plant". Its scientific name is Lonicera japonica. The fruits grow off of a quickly growing vine, able to climp up about 10 meters or more. It gives off a sweet vanilla scent, meaning people like to use it as ground cover (Which is more than likely, the way it got transported into these foreign countries).
The honeysuckle was introduced to New York from parts of Eastern Asia in the 1800's, from there it escaped cultivation and its population boomed and spread all across the Eastern US. Its rapid spread along the east coast was made possible by birds carrying its seeds away and dropping them other places.
It has done much damage in NC alone. Because of the fact that it grows so extremely rapidly, it often overtakes other plants and shrubs, blocking sunlight, and essentially killing the other plants.
Management Plan
Works Cited
Images from: fcps.edu
Resources: Ohio-state.edu, Mdc.mo.gov, wikipedia.org.