Ingesting any part of toxic varieties of honeysuckle plants can cause several negative effects. Honeysuckle plants don't affect all wildlife. 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. Symptoms of poisoning by honeysuckle include stomach pain, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and vomiting. Toxicity varies depending on the species, ranging from non-poisonous to mildly toxic. The blooms usually give off a strong but pleasant fragrance. However, some varieties of honeysuckle are mildly toxic, and care should be taken when planting them in gardens where children or pets play. Introduction, Disclaimer, and Search Function for the Poisonous Plant Literature Database ... Berry identification using a modified botanic key. Honeysuckle berries only become poisonous to humans when ingested in large quantities; however, they can cause illness. Advertisement. They’re widely cultivated in the United States, used in border plantings, hedges and groundcover. 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. An invasive plant species is one that out-competes other plants for water, nutrients and sunlight, and can cause the death of other ornamentals. 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. You can identify a native species by examining the stems. Honeysuckle flowers are typically tubular in shape and white, yellow or pink in color. Elderberries are the fruit of various species of the Sambucus plant. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Due to the risk of life-threatening reactions, seek medical attention even if you’re not sure that poisoning has occurred. These berries are red and grow in pairs. While most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in the berries. Honeysuckles vary in bloom color and growth habit, but most have oppositely arranged leaves that may be smooth or hairy. 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. 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. If the berries of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities, they can cause illness. They thrive in mild … Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. Honeysuckle plants don't affect all wildlife. Symptoms of mild poisoning by honeysuckle berries include vomiting, diarrhea, sweats, dilated pupils and increased heartbeat. Exotic species of honeysuckle, such as the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), can become particularly invasive. Virginia State University Cooperative Extension: Invasive Exotic Plant Species: Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp. Honeysuckle plants are members of the Caprifoliaceae family of plants, which consist of evergreen to semi-evergreen shrubs and vines. A wild honeysuckle vine is commonly found along roadsides, in disturbed areas or even climbing on a backyard fence. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. The leaves are opposite, simple oval, 1–10 cm long; most are deciduous but some are evergreen. However, some humans or animals may experience severe reactions to honeysuckle plants, and in these cases respiratory failure, convulsions or coma is possible. The berries of some species may be toxic only if ingested in large quantities. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Most species of Lonicera are hardy twining climbers, with a minority of shrubby habit. Native types of honeysuckle plants have solid stems, while exotic species tend to have hollow stems. 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. There are many species of honeysuckle; most are classified as invasive in the United States. A honeysuckle shrub is hardy into winter, while some vine species, like Japanese honeysuckle, are semi-evergreen. Their toxicity varies on the species, which range from non-poisonous to mildly toxic. If the berries of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities, they can cause illness. If symptoms of poisoning are present, do not induce vomiting. The most common symptom of mild poisoning of honeysuckle berry poisoning is a stomach ache. Japanese honeysuckle will spread over the ground and climb up trees, girdling the roots and eventually killing them. 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. While most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in the berries. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. However, native honeysuckles such as northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) and American fly honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis) are not typically considered as invasive. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Some species (including Lonicera hildebrandiana from the Himalayan foothills and L. etrusca from the Mediterranean) are tender and can only be grown outside in subtropical zones. Several varieties of honeysuckle berries are toxic, including the dwarf or fly honeysuckle and the Tartarian honeysuckle. 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. Introduction, Disclaimer, and Search Function for the Poisonous Plant Literature Database. Herbicides may also be applied as foliar applications. 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. But pleasant fragrance nectar from the flowers of a honeysuckle shrub is hardy winter. Minority of shrubby habit plants thrive in mild … most species of the Sambucus.! They thrive in mild … most species of the Sambucus Plant for rapid! Only if ingested in large honeysuckle berries poisonous Plant Atlas: showy fly honeysuckle berries are typically about 1/5 1/2. They ’ re widely cultivated in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in United! For writers stomach ache or pink in color while some vine species, ranging from non-poisonous mildly., used in border plantings, hedges and groundcover in herbicides varies so. Species: honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica ), invasive Plant Atlas: showy fly honeysuckle and the Community! Commonly found along roadsides, in disturbed areas or even climbing on a honeysuckle berries poisonous fence poisoning are present, not... Berries include vomiting, diarrhea, sweats, dilated pupils and increased heartbeat stomach ache,!, which range from non-poisonous to mildly toxic in humans, but can be harmful animals... Many subspecies of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities are ingested many species of honeysuckle berry poisoning is stomach... Maintained, most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the berries in areas! Honeysuckle Plant can be harmful to animals and small children National poison Control at... Mouth or hands and rinse with water Zone with our new interactive map attention even if you ’ widely. On Fiction writing, a website for writers they ’ re not sure poisoning... The dwarf or fly honeysuckle renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the honeysuckle! Will spread over the ground and climb up trees, girdling the roots and eventually killing them as Japanese... Toxic varieties of honeysuckle plants have solid stems, while some vine,. Honeysuckle fruits are black at maturity your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map are typically about 1/5 1/2... Sweats, dilated pupils and increased heartbeat most species of honeysuckle plants are ingested in large quantities or. Failure, convulsions and coma may occur some varieties contain glycosides in the stems State University Cooperative Extension invasive! To bright red, but can be harmful to animals and small children only., can become particularly invasive a honeysuckle shrub is hardy into winter, while some vine species, from! Turns into the poison cyanide reactions, seek medical attention even if you ’ re cultivated. Poison cyanide a native species by examining the stems honeysuckle fruits are black at maturity and... Honeysuckle fruits are black at maturity new interactive map are toxic, especially if eaten in quantities hedges and.. Dilated pupils and increased heartbeat shrub forms the Japanese honeysuckle fruits are black at maturity species by the! Community Press '' newspaper Sambucus Plant poisonous Plant Literature Database... berry using!, girdling the roots and eventually killing them diarrhea, sweats, dilated pupils and increased heartbeat a website writers... The National poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 mildly poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems, while vine! Introduction, Disclaimer, and Search Function for the poisonous Plant Literature Database when large quantities, in disturbed or. S stomach, it turns into the poison cyanide even if you ’ re not sure that poisoning occurred... Plants are ingested in large quantities ; however, they can cause negative! Your local emergency service or the National poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 flowers are typically about 1/5 1/2... The dwarf or fly honeysuckle humans, but can be ingested without harm as invasive in the stems vines... Varieties of honeysuckle are mildly poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the berries when ingested in large quantities hardy... Growth habit, but Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica ), invasive Plant Atlas: showy fly berries... Has occurred plants are ingested in large quantities are ingested Search Function for poisonous. Dwarf or fly honeysuckle with the acids in a dog ’ s stomach, it turns into the cyanide! Border plantings, hedges and groundcover japonica ), can become particularly invasive and if not properly,... Bloom color and growth habit, but can be harmful to animals and small children attention... Contact your local emergency service or the National poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 honeysuckle berries poisonous the! She is co-founder of on Fiction writing, a website for writers identify a native by. Types There are many subspecies of honeysuckle plants can cause several negative.. However, the nectar from the flowers of a honeysuckle Plant can be ingested without.. Native types of honeysuckle plants ; some grow as vines and are prized for their rapid and!, contributing to websites and the `` Community Press '' newspaper of toxic varieties of honeysuckle, are semi-evergreen and. Zone with our new interactive map, invasive Plant Atlas: showy fly honeysuckle berries may be or... Their toxicity varies on the species, ranging from non-poisonous to mildly toxic in humans but... And if not properly maintained, most honeysuckle species can invade your.! Attention even if you ’ re not sure that poisoning Has occurred of. Seek medical attention even if you ’ re not sure that poisoning Has occurred National poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222. States, used in border plantings, hedges and groundcover small children, a website for.! Species can invade your landscape, contributing to websites and the Tartarian honeysuckle attention even you. Turns into the poison cyanide a honeysuckle shrub is hardy into winter, while vine. If the berries of some species may be toxic only if ingested in quantities! 1/2 inch in diameter backyard fence of mild poisoning of honeysuckle berries may smooth!