Honeysuckle Toxicity

While most honeysuckle species are not poisonous, some varieties contain glycosides in the stems or vines, and carotenoids in the berries. These are generally only mildly toxic in humans, but can be harmful to animals and small children. Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), which is native to Asia and hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4a to 9b, contains these toxic compounds. According to the University of Georgia, trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), which is hardy to zones 3 through 9, and native to the Southeastern United States, is also mildly toxic, as are some bush varieties. Asia natives Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii), hardy to zones 3 through 8; and morrow honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii), hardy to zones 4 through 8; Russia and Turkey native tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), which is hardy to zones 3 through 8; and European fly honeysuckle, also known as European mound (Lonicera xylosteum), hardy to zones 4 through 6, are all mildly poisonous as well.

Honeysuckle plants don't affect all wildlife. They’re a source of food for birds and don't appear to affect some wild animals, such as rodents and most horses. Gardeners may be confused as to whether or not honeysuckles are safe to plant because of this, and because honeysuckles aren't flagged in many poison control systems as a poisonous plant. However, some poisonous plant resources, like the University of Georgia, the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Ohio State University, do confirm that certain honeysuckle varieties contain toxic compounds that can be harmful in large quantities.

Ingesting any part of toxic varieties of honeysuckle plants can cause several negative effects. Symptoms of poisoning by honeysuckle include stomach pain, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat and vomiting. These effects are usually mild and occur only when large quantities are ingested. However, some humans or animals may experience severe reactions to honeysuckle plants, and in these cases respiratory failure, convulsions or coma is possible.

While honeysuckle is not considered highly toxic, if you or a pet has ingested any part of poisonous varieties in large enough amounts, serious illness can occur. If symptoms of poisoning are present, do not induce vomiting. Instead, remove all plant parts from the mouth or hands and rinse with water. Contact your local emergency service or the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Due to the risk of life-threatening reactions, seek medical attention even if you’re not sure that poisoning has occurred.