Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is in the honeysuckle family family (Caprifoliaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,349 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Japanese honeysuckle: observations by month (U.S.)
About Japanese honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica, known as Japanese honeysuckle and golden-and-silver honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle native to eastern Asia. It is often grown as an ornamental plant, but has become an invasive species in a number of countries. Japanese honeysuckle is used in traditional Chinese medicine.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Japanese honeysuckle by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 549 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Virginia | 371 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 357 | May | Apr–May |
| New York | 302 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 299 | May | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 260 | April | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 260 | June | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 234 | June | May–Jun |
| Georgia | 226 | April | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 166 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 151 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 126 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 113 | June | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 93 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Indiana | 86 | June | May–Sep |
| Kentucky | 84 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 77 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 72 | May | Apr–May |
| Delaware | 72 | May | May–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 67 | May | Apr–May |
| Missouri | 58 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 55 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Florida | 48 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 45 | May | May–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 40 | May | May–May |
| Rhode Island | 34 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Illinois | 28 | June | May–Jun |
| California | 20 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Hawaii | 12 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Kansas | 12 | June | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 11 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Utah | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (honeysuckle family)
Amur honeysuckle
Coral Honeysuckle
Pink Honeysuckle
Twinberry Honeysuckle
Shortspur Seablush
Northern Bush Honeysuckle
Edible Valerian
Twinflower
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Japanese honeysuckle?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to June.
Where is Japanese honeysuckle most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Virginia, North Carolina.