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Honeysuckle-2.jpg  Honeysuckle-1.jpg   

 

NAME: Japanese honeysuckle

SPECIES / FAMILY: Lonicera Japonica / Caprifoliaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): 

CONDITIONS: sun/partial shade
 

PARTS:

EDIBLE cid:image001.jpg@01D3EC3E.A305A520

TASTE

RAW/COOK

SEASON

All

  

 

 

 

Shoots

 

 

 

 

Leaves

 

BOIL 2x

Spring

Stalk/Stem

 

 

 

 

Buds

        

Flowers

+nectar

sweet

RAW/COOK

Summer

Fruits

 

 

 

 

Pods

  

 

    

Seeds

 

 

 

 

Nuts

 

 

 

 

Roots

 

 

 

 

Bark

 

 

 

 

 

PORTION: small

 

COMMENT:  Leaves - cooked. The parboiled leaves are used as a vegetable. Flowers - sucked for their sweet nectar, used as a vegetable or made into a syrup and puddings.(1)

 

CAUTION: The leaves contain saponins. Saponins are quite toxic but are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. They can be found in many common foods such as some beans. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will normally remove most of the saponins.(1) 

 

Lesser known native species:
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/lonicera/canadensis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diervilla_lonicera

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-512/honeysuckle

Antibacterial;  Anti-inflammatory;  Antispasmodic;  Antiviral;  Depurative;  Diuretic;  Febrifuge;  Skin;  TB;  VD.(1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lonicera+periclymenum

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES:  There are several deadly honeysuckles, so make sure you have the safe-to-eat Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica).(4) Not noted as poisonous, but also not noted as edible - https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lonicera+sempervirens 

 

OTHER USES: Basketry;  Insecticide.(1) Nectar source for bees & butterflies (4)

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lonicera+japonica
  2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/honeysuckle-heaven-2
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonicera_japonica   
  4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/11/japanese-honeysuckle.html (good photos)
  5. https://www.healthygreensavvy.com/honeysuckle-recipes
  6. https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/honeysuckle-iced-tea-2
  7. https://www.primallyinspired.com/how-to-make-honeysuckle-tea
  8. https://theherbalacademy.com/homemade-honeysuckle-syrup