Side by side
Japanese honeysuckle or perfoliate honeysuckle? How to tell them apart
Lonicera japonica · Lonicera caprifolium
How to tell them apart – Japanese honeysuckle: semi-evergreen, with the flowers in pairs in the leaf axils and black berries; perfoliate honeysuckle: top leaf pairs fused into a dish, flowering in May–June and orange-red berries.
How do you recognise them?
- Japanese honeysuckle
- Semi-evergreen, vigorously twining honeysuckle with white flowers that turn yellow, in pairs in the leaf axils.
- Compared with perfoliate honeysuckle: semi-evergreen, with the flowers in pairs in the leaf axils and black berries.
- Perfoliate honeysuckle
- Twining honeysuckle whose top pairs of leaves are fused into a little dish, with the fragrant flowers in the middle.
- Compared with Japanese honeysuckle: top leaf pairs fused into a dish, flowering in May–June and orange-red berries.
| Japanese honeysuckle | Perfoliate honeysuckle | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, oval to oblong, 3–8 cm, untoothed and softly hairy; sometimes lobed on young shoots. Stays on the plant in mild winters. | Opposite, oval, 4–10 cm, untoothed, bluish-green underneath; the top 1–3 pairs are fused at the base around the stem. |
| Flowering | Two-lipped tubular flowers (3–4 cm), white at first and then yellow, in pairs in the leaf axils, June–October; sweetly scented (June–September). | Creamy-white to yellow, often pink-flushed tubular flowers (4–5 cm) in whorls within the fused leaves, May–June; strongly scented in the evening (May–June). |
| Fruit | Glossy black berries in pairs, in autumn. | Orange-red berries sitting in the leaf dish, July–August; mildly poisonous. |
| Bark | Hairy, twining stems that become woody; old stems with flaking bark. | Twining, hairless stems; older stems with peeling bark. |
| Shape and height | Climber, twines to 6–10 m | Climber, twines to 4–6 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | – |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | March–April and July–August | February–March and July–August |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Japanese honeysuckle is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Perfoliate honeysuckle is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Japanese honeysuckle
- Plant profile: Perfoliate honeysuckle
- Japanese honeysuckle: when and how to prune
- Perfoliate honeysuckle: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.