What does it look like?
This plant is a fast‑growing evergreen climber (semi‑evergreen in colder areas) with long, tough, wiry stems that twist around other plants as they grow. Young stems are purplish and slightly hairy, becoming woody as they mature.
The leaves grow in opposite pairs along the stem. They are shiny dark green on top and lighter underneath, with wavy or lobed edges in colder climates. In warmer areas, the leaf edges are usually smooth.
From spring through to autumn (September to May), the plant produces pairs of sweetly scented, tubular white flowers that gradually turn yellow as they age. These are followed by glossy black, egg‑shaped berries in cooler parts of New Zealand. Each berry contains small seeds.
Why is it a problem?
This plant has a strong climbing habit and spreads by smothering other vegetation. Over time, it forms dense, long‑lasting masses that are difficult to remove. It can grow in a wide range of conditions, including partial shade, frost, coastal areas, wet or dry sites, and most soil types.
The plant produces very long stems that spread easily by layering, allowing it to cover large areas quickly. While it produces relatively few seeds, its moderate to fast growth rate and ability to reshoot make it highly persistent.
As it grows, it climbs over and smothers plants from ground level up into the mid‑canopy. This can cause trees and shrubs to collapse under the weight, opening up areas for grasses and other invasive ground vines to establish. It can also act as a support structure for faster growing weedy vines, worsening the impact on native vegetation.
Control methods
Physical control
Dig out and hang all rooted parts of the plant in the tree to dry and rot.
Herbicide control
Cut and paint stump (all year round) using metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (200ml/L) or picloram gel. Leave vines in trees to die, dispose of cut stems at a refuse transfer station, burn or bury deeply. Or,
Cut the vines at a convenient height in winter and spray the regrowth in the spring with glyphosate (10ml/L + penetrant) or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (2g/10L + penetrant). Or,
Spray (summer-autumn) using glyphosate (10ml/L) or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L + penetrant) or clopyralid (50ml/10L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (60ml/10L).
This plant is difficult to kill. Even after cutting, stumps can resprout and long stems can take root where they touch the ground. However, it produces very little seed, so once treated, sites usually stay clear.
Check treated areas every six months for new shoots and remove them as needed. If bare ground is left after control and seedlings become a problem, replanting can help prevent re‑establishment.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
We will only control Japanese Honeysuckle inside the containment area surrounding Lake Tutira. This is to protect the regional park at Tutira.
Plan Rule 5 applies to this pest.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord
All plants on MPI's National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993 whose formal or casual trade contributes significantly to their spread.
Plants on the Accord cannot legally be propagated, distributed, or sold in New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage our economy and environment.
Progressive Containment Programme
There are a number of pests that are well established in the Hawke’s Bay region but their present infestation levels are still low enough for those levels to be reduced region-wide through a progressive containment programme. Progressive Containment programmes have the less specific aim of reducing levels of infestation within their respective management zones. While the general intent is to reduce these infestations to zero-levels at some time into the future, the primary focus of a progressive containment programme is to preventing a pest from spreading. For well-established pests whose harmful effects and spread can still be reduced, progressive containment offers the best ratio of cost to benefits.
The goal is to maintain a pest population at the lowest feasible level and confine it to a particular area while reducing numbers over time. In some cases this will result in fewer sites infested or in others the overall density of the pest will reduce over a 10 year duration period. Containment programmes usually target habitats of high ecological value that require protection and restoration.
Unwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
More informationRules
Plan Rule 5
Except where an occupier of land has entered into a Written Management Agreement approved by Hawke's Bay Regional Council, an occupier of land shall;
a) destroy all apple of Sodom, Australian sedge, cotton thistle, Darwin's barberry, nassella tussock, saffron thistle, velvetleaf, and woolly nightshade plants on their land
b) destroy all Japanise honeysuckle plants on their land within the defined containment area
c) destroy all old man's beard plants on their land within the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges buffer area and containment area.
Taxonomies
FamilyCaprifoliaceae
TypePlants
GroupClimber
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant AccordProgressive Containment ProgrammeUnwanted Organism
RulesPlan Rule 5
