Bush Honeysuckle is a commonplace feature in many Cincinnati yards — and that’s bad news for our ecosystems and our landscapes.

If you’re interested in learning more about how this incredibly invasive plant made its way to the Ohio Valley Region, as well as its impact on native plants and insects, you can revisit our earlier blog post about Bush Honeysuckle.

For many people with a backyard full of honeysuckle—even those committed to native plants, birds, and pollinators—removing Bush Honeysuckle can be a daunting prospect. Because honeysuckle grows so aggressively and out-competes other understory plants, forested areas sometimes can be left looking bare and exposed immediately after a honeysuckle removal project.

Some homeowners are eager to remove honeysuckle from their property but are worried about losing privacy, or they’re simply unsure what to do about the open space they’ll be left with after removal.

Thoroughly thinking through the impacts of our work is a big part of our process at Our Land Organics. Below, we’ve compiled a list of native alternatives to Bush Honeysuckle to make the transition to a native, invasive-free landscape as smooth as possible.

Native Understory Shrubs and Trees: Bush Honeysuckle Alternatives

For those looking to restore their woodland areas, these native understory trees and shrubs will suit any landscape while bringing life back to native ecosystems, all without a loss of privacy.

Arrowwood Viburnum

Viburnum will create a dense hedge and has a gorgeous fall color. Birds happily feed on its blue berries.

There are a number of native Viburnums, even a few semi-evergreen varieties that create dense, quickly growing screens. They also serve as a host plant to more than 100 species of moths and butterflies.

Staghorn Sumac

Staghorn Sumac is a deciduous shrub that helps create privacy while revitalizing forest ecosystems. It’s an excellent food source for birds. A stand of Staghorn Sumac provides any winter landscape with a pop of color and visual texture. Staghorn Sumac also thrives in poor soils and on hillsides, making it a great candidate for new construction sites or sites in need of soil rehabilitation.

Bottlebrush Buckeye

Like Staghorn Sumac, Bottlebrush Buckeye is a deciduous native shrub that offers privacy while supporting forest ecosystems. It’s also a fantastic food source for birds, and its unique, bottlebrush-shaped blooms stand out in any landscape.

Redbud

Redbuds are native understory trees that offer a gorgeous alternative to honeysuckle. A Redbud tree can happily function as a single specimen tree or focal point in a landscape. Or it can blend more seamlessly into a forested landscape, providing one of the first flushes of color in early spring.

Pawpaw

Like Redbudgs, Pawpaws are a native understory tree. They’re distinct from Redbuds in that they create dense stands. These stands provide delicious fruit (for both wildlife and humans!) in the late summer months, making them a native fruit option for edible landscapes. In fall, Pawpaw leaves turn a pleasing yellow. Pawpaws are also a host plant for the Swallowtail Caterpillar. Both Redbuds and Pawpaws help fill out the understory layer of a forest and are an important part of native ecosystems.

Natural Reforestation: Supporting Forest Ecosystems

Many forested areas will begin the restoration process as soon as Bush Honeysuckle is removed. Honeysuckle excretes an allelopathic compound from its roots that prevents other seeds from germinating, so once it’s removed we often see a flush of new tree saplings and understory shrubs. Many forests that have been choked out by invasive honeysuckle have thousands of healthy seeds waiting in the soil for a chance to emerge.

If you want to get rid of your Bush Honeysuckle but are afraid of the empty space you’ll create, know that there are many good native alternatives. Our Land Organics offers a range of Honeysuckle Removal packages, including Forest Survey and Tree Planting services. To take a step toward transforming your yard into a haven for native pollinators, contact us today to schedule a consultation.