ABSTRACT Lonicera japonica is a plant native to Asia that has been widely used in landscaping as an ornamental plant, but has escaped cultivation and become invasive in several countries. This study examined the reproductive phenology, pollinator attraction, and potential dispersal mechanisms of L. japonica in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. The findings demonstrate that its extended flowering period and abundant nectar production attract and recruit diverse pollinators, including hummingbirds, facilitating its integration into the community. Additionally, the fruiting period coincides with that of native plant species, and its fruits exhibit similar morphology and sugar content to native fruits, which may increase the chances of attracting native frugivores and potentially facilitate the dispersal and invasion process. Although heterospecific pollen transfer from L. japonica to native plants was minimal, potential reproductive interference warrants further investigation. Furthermore, the ornamental use of L. japonica further amplifies the risk of invasion by facilitating its escape from urban areas into natural and semi‐natural habitats. These findings emphasise the importance of managing L. japonica by removing these plants from urban gardens and especially from within conservation units to mitigate its ecological impacts. Another action would be to monitor and demand the implementation of public policies to control the sale of non‐native and potentially invasive species, such as Lonicera japonica .
Silva et al. (Wed,) studied this question.