Hello, I have recently found this strange shrub in my back yard next to a rose bush. I have no idea how it got there. It is tall with a woody stalk and large green leaves and small white flowers with tiny yellow inside. Any ideas would be appreciated as I am not sure if I should dig it up or not? Thank you! Vickie
lonicera aka honeysuckle. yes! very pretty and the flowers smell SO good!! if it's a japanese variety, it's invasive and a very aggressive/fast grower and difficult to get rid of!! since it's got white flowers, it's most probably one of those. most of the american natives (which aren't nasty/invasive) have orange, yellow or red flowers or are a mix of two or more of those three. i'm dealing with an aggressive variety coming over into my yard from the neighbors yard...have at least a half dozen tendrils that have gone over/through the fence and at least three the popped up mid-yard. the japanese types will spread through underground growth and will root whenever a tendril touches the soil. seeds can be dispersed by birds. so, if there's anything nearby (as in on the other side of the fence) it'll easily move in. and, if it's in the general area, you received a present from the birds. i suggest taking some cuttings; rooting them and planting them in a good solid container and putting a trellis in it so it can grow up that...and removing the flowers before they can go to seed so no more 'volunteers' develop.
I don't think this is a problem species. And I'm not sure, in any case, whether the Japanese types that are invasive in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast pose much of a threat in more northerly latitudes with cooler summers. Here's one important clue: This plant is old enough to have developed a thick, woody stalk. Yet your yard is not overrun with seedlings, your fence is not being pulled down, and there are no other signs that this is an unruly monster. To the contrary, it looks pretty well-behaved, and in scale with its surroundings. Rather than fear this attractive plant, I'd devote some thought to how you might complement it, perhaps with a large-flowered clematis on either side to provide contrasting foliage and flower interest.
I don't think this is a problem species. And I'm not sure, in any case, whether the Japanese types that are invasive in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast pose much of a threat in more northerly latitudes. Here's one important clue: This plant is old enough to have developed a thick, woody stalk. Yet your yard is not overrun with seedlings, your fence is not being pulled down, and there are no other signs that this is an unruly monster. To the contrary, it looks pretty well-behaved, and in scale with its surroundings. Another clue: This honeysuckle is shrubby, rather than climbing or rambling, in habit -- again unlike the invasive types. Rather than fear this attractive plant, I'd devote some thought to how you might complement it, perhaps with a large-flowered clematis on either side to provide contrasting foliage and flower interest. The clematis could be allowed to intertwine with the honeysuckle, and the resulting tangle should be quite pretty, in a wild sort of way.
I agree. It happens to have popped up right in front of a rose shrub so not sure it's in a great spot. Another person suggested some type of trellis..that might work. I sure appreciate your help. I do live in a cold winter location (Spokane, Washington) so am not too concerned about it spreading. I do enjoy it very much. Thanks for the message! Vickie
The dryness there would be the main inhibiting factor. East Asian origin plants having gone crazy back East are responding to the similar humid climate and soils.
