No need to worry, we are not being invaded by the aliens from Independence Day: Resurgence. Instead, our stream corridors and wooded areas are being taken over by the invasive species bush honeysuckle.
An invasive species is a plant, fungus or animal that is not native to a specific location (an introduced species), and that has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment. There are three types of non-native bush honeysuckle: Amur (Lonicera maackii), Tartarian (Lonicera tatarica) and Morrow (Lonicera morrowii).
These three non-native bush honeysuckles are a significant problem in central Ohio. Bush honeysuckle typically grows with multi-stem arching branches up to 18 feet tall. They have very fragrant spring flowers colored white/yellow (Amur, Morrow) or pink/red (Tartarian), and berries that turn red in late summer. They are among the first bushes to green up in the spring and the last to lose their leaves in the fall.
Leaves are oval- to ovate-shaped, come in opposite pairs, have smooth margins and are 1-3 inches long. Their twigs are colored brownish-gray and hollow, and develop splitting bark as they get older. Native honeysuckles and lookalikes do not have hollow stems. Invasive bush honeysuckles are extremely shade tolerant and will take over a woodland understory.
As foreign invaders, they have very few checks and balances in Ohio. Most wildlife, including deer, do not browse on bush honeysuckle, instead choosing native species to eat. Also, very few of our native insects will feed on bush honeysuckle.
In the absence of management, a dense monoculture of bush honeysuckle with low biodiversity forms, limiting tree regeneration and shading out spring wildflowers. These non-native monocultures support fewer insects (bird food) than our native shrubs would. Studies have also shown bush honeysuckle berries are not as nutritious for our birds as many of our native berries are.
Management is needed to keep these unwanted plants in check, and people should hand-pull small shrubs when the soil is wet. Larger shrubs should be cut down, and the cut-stump should be treated with an appropriate herbicide labeled for treating stumps.
In general, the best time to treat invasive plants with an herbicide is late summer and early fall. It is extremely important to follow the herbicide label directions for safe application, to protect the environment and for the most effective results.
