Japanese honeysuckle is an invasive climber that can spread over 15m in a year, smothering other plants and completely taking over.
If you think you have this vine at home, you should control it as soon as you see it – it can be hard to kill once established.
Here are some tips to identify Japanese honeysuckle:
- It has tough, wiry stems that are purplish when young and become brown and woody with age.
- The leaves are oval, 4cm-5cm long, and arranged in opposite pairs up the stem.
- The highly fragrant white and yellow flowers are present from September to May and come in pairs.
- The berries are small (5mm-7mm) and are dark purple-black.
Vines can be cut near the base and the stumps painted with herbicide gel. Roots should be dug out where possible.
Visit Auckland Council's Plant Search or email biosecurity@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information.
