VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Lonicera utahensis | Utah Honeysuckle 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Utah honeysuckle has little value as browse for livestock [81].  It is
valuable summer and fall browse for elk, but a minor browse species for
white-tailed deer [31,71,76,88].  On sites in the Garnet Range of
Mountain that had been logged within the last 50 years, radio-collared
elk used Utah honeysuckle 2 to 4 percent of the time throughout the
summer.  The relative availability of Utah honeysuckle and use by the
elk did not change over the summer [15].  Moose used Utah honeysuckle in
trace amounts as summer and winter forage in Wyoming [32,34].  Moose in
north-central Idaho consumed it from October through April [62].
Grizzly bear eat Utah honeysuckle fruits summer and fall [49,65,85].
Utah honeysuckle occurs with 14 to 80 percent frequency in various types
of grizzly bear habitat in the northern Rocky Mountains [49].  Black
bear utilized Utah honeysuckle with 15 to 45 percent frequency during
the summer in central Idaho [71].  Ruffed grouse consumed Utah
honeysuckle during the summer in northern Idaho [36].


PALATABILITY : 
The palatability of Utah honeysuckle is poor to fair for sheep and poor
for cattle and horses in Utah and Montana [12,31].  Palatability of Utah
honeysuckle for moose is intermediate [32].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Utah honeysuckle has poor protein and energy value [12].  The elemental
content of 10 compounds in Utah honeysuckle leaves and stems has been
determined on plants growing in areas subjected to seven different
silvicultural treatments [70].


COVER VALUE : 
In Utah and Wyoming, Utah honeysuckle provides poor cover for pronghorn,
elk, and waterfowl; poor to fair cover for mule and white-tailed deer;
and fair to good cover for small mammals and nongame and upland game
birds [12].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Utah honeysuckle is recommended for reclamation plantings in the
Intermountain region on riparian sites, such as wet meadow and forest
types [56].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Utah honeysuckle is recommended for ornamental use in gardens [41].  It
can be artificially propagated by stem cuttings [41,56].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Silviculture:  Utah honeysuckle can survive light to moderate site
preparation following logging [69].  It significantly (p<0.05) increased
in cover at 5 and 11 years after logging in western hemlock/pachystima
(Tsuga heterophylla/Pachystima myrsinites) and grand fir/pachystima
habitat types in northern Idaho [86].

In a comparison of clearcuts and shelterwood cuts in northern Idaho,
Utah honeysuckle was present in areas opened up 0.25 mile or more, and
its frequency was not influenced by increased evaporation due to canopy
removal [43].

Natural regeneration of six conifer species was compared under various
silvicultural methods and site prepartations in three different habitat
types in west-central Idaho.  Utah honeysuckle provided light or
efficient cover for Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and
grand fir seedlings; and moderate or very efficient cover under which
western larch (Larix occidentalis), lodgepole pine, and Engelmann spruce
seedlings established well [24,71].

A salvage cut was done following a Douglas-fir tussock moth outbreak in
Douglas-fir and grand fir forests in the Blue Mountains of Oregon and
Washington.  Utah honeysuckle was considered an important facilitative
shrub; regeneration of Douglas-fir, grand fir, and Engelmann spruce was
abundant [68].

Other Uses:  Regression equations have been developed for predicting
Utah honeysuckle aboveground biomass based on stem diameter and/or shrub
height [9,64].  Other equations predict Utah honeysuckle development
following various silvicultural treatments [37,45].  Regression
equations were developed for shrub production following logging; Utah
honeysuckle had no significant (p>0.05) relationships between biomass,
twig production, and cover with the environment or habitat type
overstory characteristics [38].  Regression equations also allow the
prediction of understory production for maintenance of wildlife
populations [77].

Utilization studies and clipping projects in northern Idaho have
estimated forage production of Utah honeysuckle.  Intense clipping
levels caused decreased vitality over time [21].  However, Utah
honeysuckle can withstand up to 60 percent removal of the annual growth
of twigs if clipped in the fall [22].

Control:  Herbicide treatments are not always needed in Utah honeysuckle
management.  Utah honeysuckle is one of the shorter shrubs in the
understory of the cedar-hemlock zone in northern Idaho.  After logging,
container-grown Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine transplants soon were
taller (0.9 foot [0.27 m]) than Utah honeysuckle (0.5 foot [0.15 m])
[56].

Where control is required for site preparation and conifer release,
various herbicides have been successfully used on Utah honeysuckle.
Utah honeysuckle had more than 50 percent damage 2 years after treatment
with glyphosate.  Aerial broadcast application of 2,4-D caused 58
percent top-kill by year 2.  After this, Utah honeysuckle recovered in
two out of three treatments [5].  Herbicides must reduce shrub cover by
50 percent, or shrubs may recover within 1 or 2 years [54].  Herbicide
selection and application seasons and rates have been discussed in
detail [50,52,53,55,61].

Related categories for Species: Lonicera utahensis | Utah Honeysuckle