Lonicera japonica

April 2009. A question about Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) from Palau. According to the PIER website it is only a threat at high elevations, and the highest elevation in Palau is less than 300 meters. There appears to be only one plant, and we are considering asking the owner to destroy it, but if it is not a threat at low elevations in the tropics, perhaps it should be allowed to grow. Any advice will be appreciated.

One member reported that an individual of this species was found naturalized in a lowland forested area on Oahu, indicating that this species is at least capable of spreading in these areas. Considering what a pest it has made of itself elsewhere, it was recommended that Palau err on the side of caution. Other reports were sent of this species seen in ornamental gardens in Solomon Isalnds, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji – all a few metres above sea level.

The editor of the PIER website said: I think the language on PIER is too “absolute” and I’m going to change it on the next edition to indicate that these species would be “primarily” a threat to high elevations in the tropics, rather than “only” a threat. Lonicera japonica certainly grows well in cultivation on many Pacific islands and is noted as “sparingly naturalized” in Fiji by Smith (1988).