The Last Leaves Standing
Warning: You may look at your next hike differently after reading this.Jacklyn Wolken, Conservation Technician
Take a stroll through a natural area in late fall, and you’ll notice nature preparing for winter. Most plants have shed their leaves, leaving behind a quiet mix of grays and browns. While native plants are dormant and bare, a shrub with lingering green stands out. This isn’t a hardy native holding onto autumn, its bush honeysuckle, an invasive species in the eastern U.S. capable of invading woodlands, prairies, savannas, stream banks, roadsides, and just about any disturbed area that receives plenty of sunlight. Its stubborn foliage is a silent declaration of war.
Before diving deeper, it helps to understand what makes a plant invasive. Invasive species are typically non-native plants or animals that spread rapidly and cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Because they didn’t evolve alongside local species, they often lack natural predators and outcompete native plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. Once established, invasive species are difficult and costly to remove.
Bush honeysuckle is a prime example. Originally from Europe and Asia, it was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental plant and promoted from the 1960s through the 1980s for erosion control and wildlife habitat. We now know bush honeysuckle is an ecological cheat. This shrub can grow 6–20 feet tall, has opposite leaves with slightly fuzzy undersides, hollow thornless twigs, fragrant white spring flowers, and bright red berries in the fall. It’s one of the first plants to leaf out in spring and the last to lose its leaves in fall, stealing sunlight and nutrients while native plants lie dormant. Its timing makes it easy to spot during early spring and late fall.
Bush honeysuckle impacts:
- Competes with native species: Dense thickets crowd out native wildflowers and young trees, reducing forest diversity.
- Disrupt pollination: It draws pollinators away from native plants, reducing successful reproduction of native species.
- Alters soil: It releases chemicals into the soil that hinder native tree growth.
- Impacts wildlife: Birds often build nests in their low branches, leading to higher predation rates. Its red berries, though plentiful, are low in nutrients, providing essentially “junk food” for migrating birds. Bush honeysuckles also affect bats by reducing the variety and abundance of insects they feed on, while its dense growth makes navigating their woodland habitats more difficult.
Natural resource managers across the state and much of the eastern U.S. are fighting back against bush honeysuckle. Because no single method can eliminate it, a combination of control techniques is necessary for lasting results. Small bushes and infestations can be hand-pulled, making sure to remove the entire root. Established plants and larger infestations can be managed by cutting and treating the stump with herbicide, or by applying herbicide directly to the leaves or uncut stems. Prescribed fire is another effective tool; annual or biennial burns help prevent resprouting and suppress young growth.
Because cutting alone often triggers regrowth, consistent treatment over several years is required. That’s where the community can make a real difference.
Help restore your county parks by joining Des Moines County Conservation for an Invasive Species Removal Day at Starr’s Cave Park and Preserve! On Thursday, November 13, from noon to 2:00 PM, learn how to identify and remove bush honeysuckle, then help DMCC staff clear this invader from the park. This event will also include burning of a large pile of invasive species from past events!
DMCC will provide loppers, handsaws, and safety gear, though you’re welcome to bring your own gloves, eye protection, and tools. Be sure to wear long sleeves and closed-toe shoes to stay protected. The event is flexible, and participants can come and go as they please. Even stopping by just to learn and ask questions is perfectly fine!
RSVP for this free event by calling 319-753-5808. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, the event will be canceled. Keep an eye on the Starr’s Cave Nature Center Facebook page for event updates and future events. This is a hands-on way to make a real impact and give back to your county parks!
The fight against this invasive species is a long one, but it starts with realizing that bush honeysuckle is waging war on our natural areas. Join Des Moines County Conservation to strip this invader of its advantage and give our native plants a fighting chance. You may see your next hike in a new light and hopefully it inspires you to tackle invasive species.
published Thursday, November 6, 2025
