JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 14

JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE

COMPLAINTS FROM SUBURBS.

SPREAD VIEWED WITH ALARM.

Complaints that the Japanese honeysuckle, or lonicera japonica, is spreading with great rapidity and becoming a danger to native plants, have recently beep made by residents of outlying Auckland suburban districts, says the Herald. It is stated that the plant, after establishing itself in native bush, plantations or hedges, takes complete possession and smothers all other plants, while it is very difficult to completely eradicate. The plant is believed t» have been introduced to New Zealand separately by a number of horticulturists, who did not fear that it would prove a nuisance, as it was easily kept under control in its native surroundings. It appears that the plant spreads far quicker in the Dominion than was expected, and many residents in districts where it has become common state that it should be declared a noxious weed.

The plant differs from the ordinary honeysuckle in that it is spread freely by birds, which are fond of the berries and carry the seed. The ordinary honeysuckle only infrequently bears seeds, and usually multiplies from the roots only. In addition to forming seed berries, the Japanese variety also spreads its roots quickly and sends up shoots, so that once it has been. established it spreads over a wide area if it is not kept strictly under control. Once the roots have taken a hold it has proved difficult to eradicate, even in private gardens. An area of native bush at the southern boundary of Papakura, known as Kirk’s Bush, has suffered severely from the growth, of the plant, much of the native undergrowth having been smothered. The honeysuckle has also been seen in the bush at Hunua, and in different parts of Titirangi.