“Honeysuckle is the first shrub that you will see that greens up in the spring, and the last to drop its leaves in the fall.”
With its long-lasting green leaves, pretty flowers and abundance of berries, honeysuckle — a woody shrub — appears to be a great addition to Ohio’s landscape.
But, you know what they say about appearances. They can be deceiving.
Honeysuckle is an invasive plant that produces unhealthy berries for wildlife, and because it retains its leaves much longer than most plants it creates a canopy of shade on the forest floor which suffocates native wildflowers, explained Ryan McEwan, assistant biology professor at the University of Dayton.
“Honeysuckle is the first shrub that you will see that greens up in the spring, and the last to drop its leaves in the fall,” said Mary Klunk, Conservation Manager of Five Rivers MetroParks in Dayton.
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By DeAnn Owens
