are part of the genus Lonicera, which includes about 180 species of shrubs and vines that are prized for their showy, fragrant blooms. Honeysuckle flowers are typically tubular in shape and white, yellow or pink in color. Exotic species of honeysuckle, such as the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), can become particularly invasive. • The colorful berries of the honeysuckle plant contain carotenoids, which are generally fine for humans, but toxic to dogs who are unable to digest them, causing discomfort. Most honeysuckle berries are orange to bright red, but Japanese honeysuckle fruits are black at maturity. If symptoms of poisoning are present, do not induce vomiting. While most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in the berries. Native types of honeysuckle plants have solid stems, while exotic species tend to have hollow stems. If wild honeysuckle is growing in your landscape and you cannot identify the species, removal is usually the safest option, particularly if you have children or pets that might eat the berries. Poisoning symptoms include abdominal pains, diarrhoea and vomiting; while the toxin has caused death in laboratory mice, no human deaths have been caused by honeysuckle berries, according to the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center: Digestive Distress from Eating Lonicera Sempervirens, Ohio State University Extension: Bush Honeysuckle, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Poisonous Plants in the Landscape, Missouri Botanical Garden: Lonicera Xylosteum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Lonicera Maackii, Missouri Botanical Garden: Lonicera Morrowii, Missouri Botanical Garden: Lonicera Tatarica ‘Alba’. Honeysuckles vary in bloom color and growth habit, but most have oppositely arranged leaves that may be smooth or hairy. A wild honeysuckle vine is commonly found along roadsides, in disturbed areas or even climbing on a backyard fence. Several varieties of honeysuckle berries are toxic, including the dwarf or fly honeysuckle and the Tartarian honeysuckle. The leaves are opposite, simple oval, 1–10 cm long; most are deciduous but some are evergreen. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. Toxicity varies depending on the species, ranging from non-poisonous to mildly toxic. The showy fly honeysuckle berries may be mildly toxic, especially if eaten in quantities. While most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in the berries. These are generally only mildly toxic in humans, but can be harmful to animals and small children. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Introduction, Disclaimer, and Search Function for the Poisonous Plant Literature Database ... Berry identification using a modified botanic key. They’re a source of food for birds and don't appear to affect some wild animals, such as rodents and most horses. Most species of Lonicera are hardy twining climbers, with a minority of shrubby habit. Small plants can be hand pulled, but large, established plants should be cut down and an herbicide that contains glyphosate, dicamba, imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, or a combination of sulfometuron methyl and metsulfurnon methyl, applied to the fresh-cut stumps. The berries of some species may be toxic only if ingested in large quantities. Due to the risk of life-threatening reactions, seek medical attention even if you’re not sure that poisoning has occurred. Symptoms of honeysuckle plant poisoning include: They’re widely cultivated in the United States, used in border plantings, hedges and groundcover. According to the University of Georgia, trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), which is hardy to zones 3 through 9, and native to the Southeastern United States, is also mildly toxic, as are some bush varieties. Japanese honeysuckle will spread over the ground and climb up trees, girdling the roots and eventually killing them. A honeysuckle shrub is hardy into winter, while some vine species, like Japanese honeysuckle, are semi-evergreen. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! However, many varieties of honeysuckle are mildly poisonous, and if not properly maintained, most honeysuckle species can invade your landscape. The blooms usually give off a strong but pleasant fragrance. Types There are many subspecies of honeysuckle plants; some grow as vines and others grow in shrub forms. Poisoning symptoms include abdominal pains, diarrhea and vomiting; while the toxin has caused death in laboratory mice, no human deaths have been caused by honeysuckle berries, according to the Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. However, some poisonous plant resources, like the University of Georgia, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Ohio State University, do confirm that certain honeysuckle varieties contain toxic compounds that can be harmful in large quantities. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. Ingesting any part of toxic varieties of honeysuckle plants can cause several negative effects. Several varieties of honeysuckle berries are toxic, including the dwarf or fly honeysuckle and the Tartarian honeysuckle. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. They are often cultivated in home landscapes as ornamental vines and are prized for their rapid growth and fragrant, attractive blooms. An invasive plant species is one that out-competes other plants for water, nutrients and sunlight, and can cause the death of other ornamentals. Toxicity. Virginia State University Cooperative Extension: Invasive Exotic Plant Species: Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp. Contact your local emergency service or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) If the berries of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities, they can cause illness. The amount of active ingredient in herbicides varies, so read the label to determine precautions and the rate and timing of applications. However, some humans or animals may experience severe reactions to honeysuckle plants, and in these cases respiratory failure, convulsions or coma is possible. Poisonous Varieties. Honeysuckle berries only become poisonous to humans when ingested in large quantities; however, they can cause illness. However, native honeysuckles such as northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) and American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) are not typically considered as invasive. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. They thrive in mild … These berries are red and grow in pairs. Symptoms of poisoning by honeysuckle include stomach pain, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and vomiting. If ingested in large quantities, respiratory failure, convulsions and coma may occur. Instead, remove all plant parts from the mouth or hands and rinse with water. All Rights Reserved. Asia natives Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), hardy to zones 3 through 8; and morrow honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), hardy to zones 4 through 8; Russia and Turkey native tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), which is hardy to zones 3 through 8; and European fly honeysuckle, also known as European mound (Lonicera xylosteum), hardy to zones 4 through 6, are all mildly poisonous as well. The berries are typically about 1/5 to 1/2 inch in diameter. These are generally only mildly toxic in humans, but can be harmful to animals and small children. The most common symptom of mild poisoning of honeysuckle berry poisoning is a stomach ache. If the berries of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities, they can cause illness. Honeysuckle plants don't affect all wildlife. While honeysuckle is not considered highly toxic, if you or a pet has ingested any part of poisonous varieties in large enough amounts, serious illness can occur. 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