FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Lonicera japonica | Japanese Honeysuckle 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Fire typically top-kills Japanese honeysuckle [2,34].  Underground
vegetative portions are most likely to survive after light or moderate
fires.  Some aboveground portions may survive if the fire is not high in
severity or long enough in duration to reach down into the dense
thickets [2,4].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
After being top-killed by fire, Japanese honeysuckle sprouts vigorously
from the root crown [2,6].  In the Georgia Piedmont, a prescribed fire
reduced Japanese honeysuckle cover by 80 percent, but its occurrence
increased to 52 percent of its original cover by the first year after
burning and 90 percent by the third year [4].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire and herbicides used in combination have had the greatest success in
controlling Japanese honeysuckle [1].  Fire should be used with caution
when the climbing vines of Japanese honeysuckle have ascended to the
tops of trees.  These vines become fire ladders that may aid in the
destruction of desirable pines and hardwoods [2,34].

Related categories for Species: Lonicera japonica | Japanese Honeysuckle