Re: lonicera
> >I am starting to go through color catalogues now that the garden itself is
> >covered with ice and snow... and I'm wondering if the purple and white
> >honeysuckle Lonicera japonica that I see in Bluestone is the invasive type
> >or not?
>
> Howard, thanks for the reply. We are not far from you, so get much the same
> weather (snow right now!). Is your lonicera in partial shade? Is it
> fragrant?
Hi Susan,
I'm not sure if I would take the chance. Unless the cultivar that
you're looking at is sterile, there's still a potential for this thing
to continue spreading.
Ken Robertson of the Illinois Natural History Survey lists it as a
naturalized invasive weed in Illinois:
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/~kenr/woody.html
The more general Natural History Survey page at
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/edu/VMG/jhnysckl.html
says
This aggressive vine seriously alters or destroys the understory
and herbaceous layers of the communities it invades, including
prairies, barrens, glades, flatwoods, savannas, floodplain and
upland forests. Japanese honeysuckle also may alter understory
bird populations in forest communities.
This plant species is also listed in the Illinois Exotic Weed Act:
http://www.legis.state.il.us/ilcs/ch525/ch525act10.htm
"Sec. 3. Designated Exotic Weeds. Japanese honeysuckle
(Lonicera japonica), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora),
and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) are hereby designated
exotic weeds. Upon petition the Director of Natural Resources,
by rule, shall exempt varieties of any species listed in this Act
that can be demonstrated by published or current research not to
be an exotic weed as defined in Section 2."
The fact that they lump it in with purple loosestrife and multiflora
rose scares me a tad. :) It also sounds like just buying a plant
is a Class B misdemeanor...
"It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, political
subdivision, agency or department of the State to buy, sell, offer
for sale, distribute or plant seeds, plants or plant parts of
exotic weeds without a permit issued by the Department of Natural
Resources. ... Violators of this Act shall be guilty of a Class
B misdemeanor. When the violation is a continuing offense, each
day shall be considered a separate violation."
Chris
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