Great Parks Calls Honeysuckle Weed Enemy Number One

What does Great Parks say about honeysuckle?

Great Parks of Hamilton County names bush honeysuckle as its most invasive shrub. On its Restoration & Management page it says: “In Hamilton County, without any natural predators or controls, bush honeysuckle is weed enemy number one.” The page names the species as Lonicera maackii, known as Amur honeysuckle.

It gives the reason in the same paragraph. “Bush honeysuckle leafs out earlier than most native plants, thereby shading out everything under its branches, including native wildflowers and young trees.” This post was checked against the page on October 26, 2026.

What else does the page list as invasive?

Honeysuckle is one of several plants on the list. The page describes these species as invasive, and gives a short note on each:

The page also lists autumn olive, buckthorns, purple loosestrife, Asian bittersweet, crown vetch, European cranberry-bush, tree-of-heaven and burning bush as non-native invasive plants that escape into natural areas. The general term for these is an invasive plant. Bush honeysuckle itself has a short entry under honeysuckle.

How does Great Parks control invasive plants?

It uses trained staff and volunteers with a mix of methods. The page says: “Great Parks works to reclaim prairies, wetlands and forests dominated by invading weeds.” It adds that “Some of the control methods include cutting, hand pulling, mowing, burning, spraying or injecting the safest effective herbicides.”

The page also says: “Although we will never control all the invasive plants, the results thus far are encouraging.” That is Great Parks speaking about its own work in parks. It does not give a method for private yards.

The page invites volunteers to help. The page links to a volunteer sign-up. For a Cincinnati Parks volunteer day that cuts honeysuckle and treats the stumps, see the post on the Ault Park honeysuckle event.

Why does the page stress that no natural controls exist?

The phrase “without any natural predators or controls” explains why the plant spreads. Ohio State University Extension adds that the fruit is abundant and rich in carbohydrates but lacks the high-fat, nutrient-rich content that most native plants give migrating birds. OSU says reproduction and spread is by both sprouting and seeds, which are disseminated primarily by birds. The page does not say how often crews return to a site.

Great Parks also says the plant shades out everything under its branches. University of Kentucky says the shade under dense thickets can reduce tree regeneration and eliminate understory species. Both sources describe a loss of native plants, not only an extra shrub in the woods.

What does this mean for a yard stump?

Cutting alone does not stop honeysuckle. Ohio State University Extension says: “Simply cutting the shrub off at the base will cause prolific sprouting and increase the number of stems.” It says an effective plan deadens both the stems and the root system. Great Parks lists “cutting” and “spraying or injecting the safest effective herbicides” among its tools, which fits OSU’s point that a cut needs a follow-up step.

The guide on how to kill honeysuckle roots lays out the steps OSU, University of Kentucky and the University of Cincinnati publish. The pillar on honeysuckle stumps and roots compares the methods. Any herbicide work should follow the product label.

What can you plant afterward?

Great Parks points readers to the Ohio Invasive Plants Council for “invasive species and native alternatives.” University of Kentucky says a wide range of native plants give good options for replacing bush honeysuckles in home landscapes. For home use it lists chokeberry, spicebush, ninebark, strawberry bush and Carolina buckthorn, and says to select plants that suit your light, moisture and soil.

Where does this apply in Hamilton County?

The Great Parks statement is about Hamilton County, the home of Cincinnati. It describes parkland that Great Parks manages. It does not say how many yards have honeysuckle. For the Cincinnati area page, see stump grinding in Cincinnati. The business there grinds tree stumps, and honeysuckle is a topic to raise when you request your free estimate.

Next step

For the full picture on stems and roots, read the pillar on honeysuckle stumps and roots. Call (513) 587-6772 or send photos for a free estimate.