I was scrolling through Instagram the other day and saw one of my favorite foragers, with over 1 million followers, insist that everyone kill invasive Honeysuckle.
Invasiveness, like so many things, seems to be a social construct as much as a biological concept. Virginia waterleaf is a native plant where I live in Minnesota, but I consider it invasive because it just showed up in my garden one year from nowhere and now it’s everywhere and wants to overwhelm everything, including other natives that are more selective about where they’ll grow. It’s not like it’s easy to get rid of, either — you can’t just pull it out of an area and have it stay out. You have to dig up the whole area and sort through all of it, trying to get the plant and its roots out all intact. Bah.
I too liked to taste the sweet honeysuckle as a boy. They do not bother me at all, but barberry is the worst. I want to dig all of them up. This is a good way to look at these crazy times.
I always hear about getting rid of invasive butterfly bushes. Yet, I keep mine trimmed back and pull up any offshoots. So many bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit it every summer, why in the h*ll would I kill it?!
I once asked the head of our local conservancy why I should kill it, and he said it’s like feeding butterflies straight “sugar.” I laughed because so many people do put out those sugar feeders for hummingbirds and butterflies. I like butterfly bush and let it be in my yard.
Maria, this is an interesting angle on invasive species. We could have a pleasant, long conversation about it. I have loads of the invasive bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) on the outskirts… just barely of my native plant garden. I've battled it for years, but if I didn't, I would have no garden at all.
Is there something “stronger” you could plant to keep the honeysuckle at bay? I call it over planting. Instead of removing something I plant something more aggressive next to it. I used horseradish and pineapple mint to overtake some thistles, for example.
Hey Maria, nothing can outcompete the bush honeysuckle. It is actually allelopathic and produces a chemical to prevent other plants from growing. In a few spots, I've cleared away the bush honeysuckle and planted Alabama Snow-wreath (Neviusia alabamensis), which is beautiful but no match for the honeysuckle. Here’s a photo of the Alabama Snow-wreath.
Maria: What about introducing native diversity to places with invasive honeysuckle? Will that help control them over many years without the use of synthetic pesticides?
Invasiveness, like so many things, seems to be a social construct as much as a biological concept. Virginia waterleaf is a native plant where I live in Minnesota, but I consider it invasive because it just showed up in my garden one year from nowhere and now it’s everywhere and wants to overwhelm everything, including other natives that are more selective about where they’ll grow. It’s not like it’s easy to get rid of, either — you can’t just pull it out of an area and have it stay out. You have to dig up the whole area and sort through all of it, trying to get the plant and its roots out all intact. Bah.
I so enjoy your writing!
Thanks! Try to figure out whether it’s trying to tell you!
Yes!!! I missed that whole point. I mean, I totally got it in your piece but then failed to apply it to the Virginia waterleaf. Sheesh. 🙄
😊
Honeysuckle Rose
Willie Nelson 1980
🌱💚☮️🌎🎶⚡️🙏
I too liked to taste the sweet honeysuckle as a boy. They do not bother me at all, but barberry is the worst. I want to dig all of them up. This is a good way to look at these crazy times.
I always hear about getting rid of invasive butterfly bushes. Yet, I keep mine trimmed back and pull up any offshoots. So many bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit it every summer, why in the h*ll would I kill it?!
I once asked the head of our local conservancy why I should kill it, and he said it’s like feeding butterflies straight “sugar.” I laughed because so many people do put out those sugar feeders for hummingbirds and butterflies. I like butterfly bush and let it be in my yard.
Butterflies seem to be able to take care of their own menus...it's when we interfere that the problems start! LOL
Exactly!!!
Absolutely Love your writing ✍️ perspective. Thoughtful 🤔 and threaded with wisdom.
😊
Maria, this is an interesting angle on invasive species. We could have a pleasant, long conversation about it. I have loads of the invasive bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) on the outskirts… just barely of my native plant garden. I've battled it for years, but if I didn't, I would have no garden at all.
Is there something “stronger” you could plant to keep the honeysuckle at bay? I call it over planting. Instead of removing something I plant something more aggressive next to it. I used horseradish and pineapple mint to overtake some thistles, for example.
Hey Maria, nothing can outcompete the bush honeysuckle. It is actually allelopathic and produces a chemical to prevent other plants from growing. In a few spots, I've cleared away the bush honeysuckle and planted Alabama Snow-wreath (Neviusia alabamensis), which is beautiful but no match for the honeysuckle. Here’s a photo of the Alabama Snow-wreath.
Maria: What about introducing native diversity to places with invasive honeysuckle? Will that help control them over many years without the use of synthetic pesticides?
I think that’s a great option. However, what was native once might not be native anymore, hence the traveling.