Becoming a #naturalist here in #Missouri has been quite eye-opening.
Let me share one way.
This is an educational rant about an incredibly #invasive, terrible plant: #bushhoneysuckle.
WARNING: If you read this thread you’ll be broken. Because once you know what it is, you will always see it. Everywhere.
But that’s a good thing because you can share the knowledge with others and maybe yank some, too. Thus giving #nativeplants a chance.
Anyway, proceed with caution…
#invasive #bushhoneysuckle was introduced to North America from Asia and spreads prolifically.
It is among one of the first plants to green in spring, and one of the last to die off in winter keeping its leaves into November. With its longer growing season it has a distinct advantage against native plants allowing it to out-compete them.
Because it grows so quickly it can easily shade and kill native plants which local wildlife are dependent on.
Invasive bush honeysuckle produces tons of pretty red berries which birds LOVE. They love them because they are like candy. Carb heavy, lacking fats and vitamins which birds need. Plus, because they are so tasty, birds are happy engorge on the berries to spread their seeds far and wide.
OK but how do you identify it? It’s pretty easy. The trunks are light colored and as the name suggests, it looks bushy. Usually you’ll see multiple stalks from one area.
More mature plants have tiger stripe markings, almost like stretch marks.
This terrible no good plant can get up to 20-ft tall 😱. Here’s a mature specimen @Jillianmarisa and I spotted yesterday at a nature preserve that hasn’t gotten much attention and is in dire condition. 😭
The #bushhoneysuckle is in the front. There’s a shag bark hickory in back. Kinda sorta similar bark texture, but the tree is a tree (one trunk) and is shaggy.
OK- but what can you do?
Knowledge is key. Now that you know what to look for it will stick out and hopefully call you to action.
I have some good news! #invasive #bushhoneysuckle has shallow roots so it is easy to pull particularly when the ground is damp and not frozen. Excellent stress relief!
Because it is often hollow it’s also easy to cut. But (and here’s where it gets controversial) cut bases must be treated w/ chemical. Otherwise it will come back with a vengeance. 20% glyphosate applied to the fresh cut does the trick.
I learned quickly in my training that chemical help isn’t bad. We just have to use it in a targeted fashion vs indiscriminately. It was weird to hear my hippy trainers praise these terrible chemicals. But I have seen stocks that weren’t treated. And, yikes!
ALSO: Stay diligent! I literally just pulled this from a shaded area of our suburban backyard fence line. 🫣
I yanked it while bent over the 4 ft chainlink fence, and one-handed! I’m no muscle man, so YOU CAN DO IT. I believe in you!
Final thoughts:
- If able, pull/kill whatever you can.
- Nag your governmental bodies to stay on top of infestations.
- Volunteer with local non-profits during their workdays. Do it now before the pests and bitey critters are out
For bonus points: Join a group of naturalists.
I am a #MissouriMasterNaturalist. There are are almost 3K of us amongst 12 chapters statewide.
Other #MasterNaturalist orgs exist. I know of them in #Texas, #Tennessee and #Minnesota.
Here’s a directory of 21 different programs across the US: https://anrosp.wildapricot.org/directory
Questions about the #Missouri program? I’m on the state leadership committee and a board member of the #KC chapter. I’d love to chat with you.
JL Johnson 
Flatbush Gardener 🌈
Kelly