What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Amur honeysuckle removal and restoration plantings in preventing reinvasion and aiding native plant recovery.

April 3, 2026Open Access

Managing invasive Amur honeysuckle ( Lonicera maackii ) in central Kentucky: can native species release and restoration plantings hold their ground?

Key Points

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Amur honeysuckle removal and restoration plantings in preventing reinvasion and aiding native plant recovery.
Conducted a field experiment with three treatments: untreated control, glyphosate removal, and removal with restoration plantings.
Applied glyphosate at a rate of 0.023 kg ae L −1 to cut stumps of Amur honeysuckle in treatment plots.
Assessed plant community variables over time, including canopy cover, herbaceous cover, bare ground, and species richness.
Lonicera maackii removal significantly reduced canopy cover and increased herbaceous cover and species richness compared to untreated plots.
No significant differences were observed between removal alone and removal with restoration plantings.
Increased herbaceous cover and reduced bare ground correlated with L. maackii removal.

Abstract

Abstract Amur honeysuckle Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder is an abundant invasive species throughout Kentucky and the surrounding region. It forms dense stands, outcompeting and displacing native species and adversely impacting the regeneration, succession, and biodiversity of deciduous forest communities. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of L. maackii removal alone relative to removal followed by restoration plantings to suppress reinvasion and facilitate forest understory native plant community recovery. In March 2019, a field experiment was conducted with the following treatments: (1) untreated control; (2) L. maackii removal with 0.023 kg ae L −1 glyphosate cut stump application (CH plots); and (3) same treatment as in 1, plus restoration plantings of wildrye grasses ( Elymus spp.) and northern spicebush Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume (CHP plots). Lonicera maackii removal and cut stump glyphosate treatments effectively reduced L. maackii canopy cover, increased herbaceous cover, decreased bare ground, and increased species richness over time compared with untreated plots. However, we did not find any differences (P > 0.05) in L. maackii cover or other plant community variables between CH and CHP treatments over time. Thus, we found insufficient evidence that restoration plantings of Elymus spp. and L. benzoin suppressed L. maackii reinvasion compared with L. maackii removal alone. Spearman rank-correlation tests indicate L. maackii removal correlated with increased herbaceous cover (ρ = −0.75, P < 0.0001), lower bare ground (ρ = 0.714, P < 0.0001), and higher species richness (ρ = −0.693, P < 0.0001). Further studies of L. maackii removal plus restoration plantings are needed that test different species combinations and/or season of planting (i.e., spring vs. autumn) to determine the most effective restoration planting strategy to simultaneously suppress L. maackii reinvasion after removal and facilitate native plant community recovery in forest understories.

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