Japanese honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae Lonicera japonica Thunb. symbol: LOJA Leaf: Opposite, simple, ovate to oval, 1 to 2 inches long, entire margin, sometimes lobed, semi-evergreen, light green and somewhat pubescent. Flower: Fragrant, 1/2 to 1 inch long, white or yellowish-white long petals, appearing in late spring. Fruit: Small (1/4 inch diameter), black berry, often in pairs, ripen in fall and persist into early winter. Twig: Slender, initially pubescent, light brown in color developing scaly, thin bark, hollow pith; buds small. Bark: Long, shreddy peeling strips, light red-brown to straw-colored. Form: A scrambling, twisting vine with no tendrils or aerial roots, forms dense thickets in bushes and trees and sprawls along the ground. Looks like: Oriental bittersweet - false jessamine - swamp jessamine Additional Range Information: Lonicera japonica is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. See states reporting Japanese honeysuckle. More: Fall Color External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2015, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson