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Would Lonicera Japonica be a problem for nearby woods?

elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
in Problem solving
I have a question, would my Lonicera Japonica 'cream cascade' be bad news for the woods near my house? I plan for it to cover a wall so I will unlikely be able to remove the berries before the birds can get to them. I know it is not classed as invasive but at the same time, I do not want to trash my local ecosystem (and possibly anywhere else if it spreads further). For context, in my local village and a neighbouring town, it has spread outside of people's gardens so I'm wondering if mine would do the same.
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  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Left to it’s own devices anything will * go rogue *just keep it trimmed and under control and it’ll be fine .
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    Should I worry about the berries? I won't be able to dispose of them when it gets to a certain height. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    You're worrying unnecessarily @elliotp981 .  I don't know where you've got the idea that honeysuckles are such a problem.
    They grow in all sorts and sizes of gardens, in all sorts of locations and settings. 
    There are several growing through the hedging boundaries of the NT garden round the corner from me. Next to the woodland that's also on that side of the garden. There's various patches growing through the hedging along many of the roadsides too. Lovely at this time of year.
    If you're so worried about it, don't grow it, is the simple solution.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    I currently grow a Lonicera Periclymenum instead with two more at the front of the house, I think I want to personally steer away from species like Lonicera Japonica in case it truly is a problem as naturalists claim. Another plus is that I can encourage the native species to spread which I think is better for wildlife. 
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    edited July 2023
    I got the idea of the problem from searching 'Is Japanese honeysuckle invasive UK' on Google and getting results like this:

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There would be a lot of gardens all over the UK totally taken over by those varieties if they were that bad.  Hundreds of GCs nurseries and online suppliers sell them :)
    Considering they also sell these varieties, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if there was a chance of major problems. 


    That particular company isn't far away from me. It's not that long since it was selling stuff without names - just general colours etc, which is pretty useless if you're inexperienced. Pretty useless even if you are experienced. They might seem a good buy as you don't pay postage, but many of their plants are actually expensive for what they are. I had a look again today, and nothing much has changed in that regard. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think we’re way past putting that particular genie back in the bottle, even if it were necessary. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    At the risk of repeating myself, just keep it trimmed back and don’t let it grow outside your property if it’s worrying you that much . Or dig it up and dispose of it . I think you are worrying unnecessarily.
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    So are the naturalists wrong? Are they overreacting? I've heard people say the same about Chinese Wisteria but nothing has ever happened with it here. To be honest, couldn't our native one kill trees also? Both are vigorous vines after all. 
  • elliotp981elliotp981 Posts: 105
    Fairygirl said:
    There would be a lot of gardens all over the UK totally taken over by those varieties if they were that bad.  Hundreds of GCs nurseries and online suppliers sell them :)
    Considering they also sell these varieties, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if there was a chance of major problems. 


    That particular company isn't far away from me. It's not that long since it was selling stuff without names - just general colours etc, which is pretty useless if you're inexperienced. Pretty useless even if you are experienced. They might seem a good buy as you don't pay postage, but many of their plants are actually expensive for what they are. I had a look again today, and nothing much has changed in that regard. 
    I ordered a Peace Lily from them once, I would not recommend buying other types of plants from them though, go to the RHS or somewhere more trustworthy. 
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