--- title: "Great Parks Calls Honeysuckle Weed Enemy Number One" description: "Great Parks of Hamilton County calls bush honeysuckle weed enemy number one. See what the page says, how parks control it, and what it means for a yard stump." url: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/great-parks-honeysuckle-hamilton-county publisher: Cincinnati Stump Grinding phone: +1-513-587-6772 quote: https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact --- # Great Parks Calls Honeysuckle Weed Enemy Number One Great Parks of Hamilton County says that in Hamilton County, without any natural predators or controls, bush honeysuckle is weed enemy number one. It says the shrub leafs out earlier than most native plants and shades out wildflowers and young trees. Its trained staff and volunteers use cutting, hand pulling, mowing, burning and herbicides. Local: Hamilton CountyPublished October 26, 20264 min read ## 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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/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: Plant What Great Parks says Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) The most invasive shrub. Leafs out earlier than most native plants Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Imported to control erosion and for landscaping. A vine that forms dense patches Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei) An evergreen groundcover that carpets the forest floor Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Can out-compete native plants and wildflowers for light, moisture and nutrients Lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) Thick foliage smothers native species. Can spread as much as 50 feet up steep hillsides 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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/invasive-plant). Bush honeysuckle itself has a short entry under [honeysuckle](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/ault-park-invasive-removal-honeysuckle-stumps). ## 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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/stump-grinding/cincinnati-oh). 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](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/honeysuckle-stumps-and-roots). Call (513) 587-6772 or [send photos for a free estimate](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/contact). ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Great Parks say about bush honeysuckle? Great Parks calls bush honeysuckle the most invasive shrub. It says that in Hamilton County, without any natural predators or controls, it is weed enemy number one. The page names the species Lonicera maackii, also called Amur honeysuckle, and it says the shrub shades out native wildflowers. ### How does Great Parks control invasive plants? The page says trained staff and volunteers use techniques with the least negative environmental impact. Control methods include cutting, hand pulling, mowing, burning, spraying or injecting the safest effective herbicides. ### Where can I learn about native alternatives? Great Parks points readers to the Ohio Invasive Plants Council for more on invasive species and native alternatives. University of Kentucky also lists native shrubs for home landscapes in its bush honeysuckle publication, including chokeberry, spicebush and ninebark. ## Terms on this page - [Amur honeysuckle](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/amur-honeysuckle) - [Invasive plant](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/invasive-plant) - [Stump grinding](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/glossary/stump-grinding) ## Sources 1. [Great Parks of Hamilton County: Restoration & Management](https://www.greatparks.org/conservation/restoration-and-management) 2. [Ohio State University Extension: Controlling Non-Native Invasive Plants in Ohio Forests: Bush Honeysuckle (F-68)](https://cfaes.osu.edu/fact-sheet/controlling-non-native-invasive-plants-ohio-forests-bush-honeysuckle) 3. [University of Kentucky Extension: Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Bush Honeysuckle (FOR-175)](https://publications.mgcafe.uky.edu/sites/publications.ca.uky.edu/files/FOR-175-Woodland-Invasive-Plant-Management-Series-Bush-Honeysuckle--Remediated.pdf) Written by Cincinnati Stump Grinding and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. City rules and product guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. ## Keep reading - [Honeysuckle stumps and roots: why they grow back and how to stop themCutting bush honeysuckle at the base makes it sprout more stems, because the roots stay alive. Ohio State Extension says an effective plan kills both the stems and the roots. Common options are a herbicide on the cut stump, following the product label, or a University of Cincinnati botanist's black plastic cover.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/honeysuckle-stumps-and-roots) - [Ault Park Honeysuckle Cutting Event: Nov 14, 2026Cincinnati Parks lists an Ault Park Invasive Removal volunteer event on Nov 14, 2026, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. The work involves cutting back invasive plants such as honeysuckle, privet and burning bush and treating the stumps. Volunteer Group Leaders provide an orientation and direct the work. Registration is on the Cincinnati Parks page.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/blog/ault-park-invasive-removal-honeysuckle-stumps) - [How to kill honeysuckle roots: the steps Ohio State, Kentucky and UC publishOhio State Extension says to kill both the stems and the roots, because cutting alone causes more sprouting. Its main options are herbicide on a fresh cut stump, a foliar spray, or a basal spray, always following the product label. A University of Cincinnati botanist covers cut stumps with black plastic instead.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-kill-honeysuckle-roots) - [Is honeysuckle illegal in Ohio? What the state rule bans and what it does notOhio rule 901:5-30-01 bans selling, offering for sale, propagating, distributing, importing or intentionally spreading invasive plants, and it lists Japanese, Amur, Morrow's and Tatarian honeysuckle. The rule text does not mention owning the plant. It also lets a person dispose of or control the plants without spreading them.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/is-honeysuckle-illegal-in-ohio) - [Emerald ash borer in Ohio, and what it means for the ash stump in your yardEmerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees. Ohio State University Extension says it was confirmed in Hamilton County in 2007. EAB kills only the above-ground part of an ash, so a dead ash stump can send up new shoots, called bush ash. Those shoots can be attacked again.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/ash-trees-emerald-ash-borer-stumps) - [What to do with a dead ash tree stumpA dead ash tree stump can send up new shoots because emerald ash borer kills only the above-ground part of the tree. Ohio State University Extension calls the multi-stemmed regrowth bush ash. The new stems can be attacked again. Your options are to leave the stump, ask about shoots, or have it ground.](https://cincystump.multisites.ai/guides/dead-ash-tree-stump)