Practical
Plants

Lonicera japonica

Japanese Honeysuckle

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
5 m
Spread
5 m
Fertility
Moths
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Moths

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The leaves contain saponins[7]. Saponins are quite toxic but are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. They can be found in many common foods such as some beans. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will normally remove most of the saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].

Edible uses

Leaves - cooked. The parboiled leaves are used as a vegetable[9]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity. Flowers - sucked for their sweet nectar[9], used as a vegetable or made into a syrup and puddings[9]. A tea is made from the leaves, buds and flowers[5][9].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The stems and flower buds are alterative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, depurative, diuretic, febrifuge[2][3][4][6][19]. The plant is also used to reduce blood pressure[3][4][19]. The stems are used internally in the treatment of acute rheumatoid arthritis, mumps and hepatitis[19]. The stems are harvested in the autumn and winter, and are dried for later use[19]. The stems and flowers are used together as an infusion in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia) and dysentery[19]. An infusion of the flower buds is used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments including syphilitic skin diseases and tumours, bacterial dysentery, colds, enteritis, pain, swellings etc[3][4][17][18][19][23]. Experimentally, the flower extracts have been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and are antibacterial, antiviral and tuberculostatic[18][23]. Externally, the flowers are applied as a wash to skin inflammations, infectious rashes and sores[19]. The flowers are harvested in early morning before they open and are dried for later use[19]. The plant has a similar action to Forsythia suspensa and is usually used in combination with that species to achieve a stronger action[4]. This plant has become a serious weed in many areas of N. America, it might have the potential to be utilized for proven medical purposes[18].

Product or use
Antibacterial
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Antiviral
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Skin
Product or use
TB
Product or use
VD

Material uses

A very vigorous climbing plant, it makes a good dense ground cover plant where it has the space to run over the ground but it will swamp smaller plants[13][14]. The sub-species L. japonica repens is especially used for this purpose on the continent[8]. The cultivar 'Halliana' has also been recommended[11][13]. This cultivar should be clipped back severely in the spring if it gets untidy, it responds well to such conditions[16]. Plants should be spaced about 1 metre apart each way[16]. The plant is said to be insecticidal[17]. The stems have been used in making baskets[21].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Insecticide

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Climber, Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea. Locally naturalized in Britain[24].
Habitat
Thickets in hills and mountains all over Japan[25]. Woods in the mountains and lowlands of Korea[23].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 months cold stratification[1] and should be sown as soon as possible in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with or without a heel, July/August in a frame. Good percentage[26]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 15 - 20cm with or without a heel, November in a cold frame. Good percentage[26]. Layering in autumn[14].

Cultivation

Prefers a good moist soil with its roots in the shade and its top climbing into the light[14]. Succeeds in any soil in part shade[10]. Established plants are drought tolerant[12]. They succeed in dry shade, the cultivar 'Halliana' is especially recommended for such a situation[11]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[10]. The foliage can be damaged in severe wind-chill conditions but the plant usually recovers in the spring[15]. Fruit is only formed after a hot summer[15]. A rampantly growing plant[12], it climbs by twining around other plants[8] and makes an excellent screen for a north or east facing fence or an unsightly object[12]. This species has the potential to become a rampant weed, it has escaped from cultivation in N. America whre it can outcompete native species[22]. The plant has powerfully scented flowers. The white-flowered cultivar 'Halliana' has a pronounced lemon-like perfume[20]. There are several named varieties, developed for their ornamental value[8][14].

References

  1. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

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  2. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

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  3. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩

  8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

    ↩1↩2

  11. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  12. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩1↩2

  14. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  15. Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-670-82929-3

    ↩1↩2

  16. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  17. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2

  18. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  20. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

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  21. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  22. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  23. Medicinal Plants in the Republic of Korea World Health Organisation, Manila 1998-00-00 ISBN 92 9061 120 0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  24. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  25. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

  26. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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