Open Your Windows

Japanese honeysuckle and multiflora rose are flowering, filling the air with their potent fragrance. Precursors to summer, for a few weeks we love them, the rest of the year, not so much. Since this time is so fleeting, consider a drive to the country with the windows rolled down, especially before or after a rain, when high humidity enhances the fragrance, lifting the spirits, delivering nostalgic memories of childhood play. 

The multiflora rose has long arching stems with clusters of white flowers. Small red hips are formed in fall, most evident after leaves drop. A native of Asia, the multiflora rose was brought into the country from Japan in 1880, used as graft stock for ornamental roses and planted to control erosion. An invasive climber, it can take down small trees, smother lower plants, creating an impenetrable, thorny barrier. The small rose hips that turn red in winter are a favorite of many bird species, which is one way it spreads. The climbing canes also root as they touch soil, romping at will. 

Japanese honeysuckle or Lonicera japonica prefers sunny areas but has invaded much of the countryside, thriving even in shaded forest thickets. This vine develops a thick trunk, spiraling as it grows, working with gravity to pull down trees and large shrubs in the hopes that it will create a new sunny patch to grow in. A native of Eastern Asia, Japanese honeysuckle was introduced to cultivaton in 1862 on Long Island, NY and is widely naturalized in the Eastern and Central United States. Despite its invasiveness, it's still sold in nurseries, the fragrance being the sole reason most people buy it. There are native species of honeysuckle, still vines and still aggressive yet lacking the fragrance.

Like the multiflora rose, the seeds are also distributed by birds and the vine will root where ever it touches soil. I find it much more difficult to eradicate, the stems tend to snap as you tug at them and growth is rapid, what appears to be inches a day.

I'm currently on the love side of my "love-hate" relationship with these two. It will pass soon, but in the mean time, roll down your windows, enjoy the only good trait they have.  
 

Comments

[Rebecca Ryan]

I taught Felicity how to enjoy honeysuckle this year and she loves it!