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BiodiverseCity St Louis

NO Bush HoneysuckleBiodiverseCity St. Louis Network partners join together to spotlight the harmful impact of bush honeysuckle on our region. Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) degrades our beautiful woodlands, neighborhoods, backyards, trails, and stream banks into impenetrable thickets lacking ecological, economic, or recreational value. Beginning in 2016, organizations have hosted biannual public events and volunteer workdays throughout the months of March and November. Volunteers remove bush honeysuckle and replant with native species to improve public spaces for wildlife habitat, recreation, and enjoyment.

In an effort to energize the greater St. Louis region around improving habitat for our native plants and animals, area conservation organizations join together to spotlight invasive bush honeysuckle and the need to remove it so that large swaths of land can become productive areas for native habitat, recreation and enjoyment. To that end, organizations will host public events and volunteer removal days during Honeysuckle Sweep Month(s).

SPRING 2023 Honeysuckle Sweep will be the month of March. Volunteer dates and events are posted below. You can also find a list of educational resources below.

Project Goals:

  • Remove bush honeysuckle to promote the establishment of native plant species
  • Raise public awareness about the need for bush honeysuckle removal and the benefits of replacing invasive plant species with native plant species
  • Connect corridors and greenspaces throughout the St. Louis region to improve habitat for wildlife

How can bush honeysuckle threaten our local landscapes?

Bush honeysuckle can rapidly develop into dense infestations that:

  • Displace native and other desirable plants from our gardens and natural areas
  • Reduce habitat for wildlife such as butterflies, which depend upon native plants
  • Threaten the future of our woodlands, as mature trees die without replacement
  • Offer poor nutritional value for birds relative to fruits of native shrubs
  • Increase tick abundance and exposure to tick borne illness dues to higher deer concentration
  • Increase survival of mosquito larvae due to changes in water chemistry

What should our forests, streams and roadways look like without bush honeysuckle choking them?

Rock Bridge State Park
Rock Bridge State Park. Photo by Erick Bohle.
Eric Bohle of Columbia, Missouri has photographed infested and restored sites around Missouri and in St. Louis. His photo to the left shows an area in Rock Bridge State Park that does not yet have a bush honeysuckle infestation.

Visit parks and natural areas where acreage cleared of bush honeysuckle is being restored with native plants after recent removal events! You’ll find ideas to replace the honeysuckle “privacy hedge” on your property with native bushes, trees and flowers. Two such areas to visit are the Forest Park – Kennedy Woods Savannah in the City of St. Louis and Emmenegger Nature Park in Kirkwood.

 

Please Note:

  • While the Missouri Botanical Garden is not the organizer of any of the events listed below, we strongly encourage all volunteers to follow CDC recommended guidelines for safety and prevention of the spread of COVID-19 when participating in Honeysuckle Sweep events.
  • Registration is often requested—check each description.
  • Please bring sturdy shoes, water bottle and gloves (if you have them).
  • Each organization will have additional information on hand to help ensure the safety of participants.

 

past participants

March 2, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 4, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 4, 9–11 a.m.
Honeysuckle Removal at Oak Haven Park (Gilbert Ave and Oak Haven Ave, Rock Hill, MO 63119)
Organized by City of Rock Hill
To register: Email knieman@rockhillmo.net
Bring: work gloves and pruning tools

March 4, 8:30 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle Hack at Mallard Lake (2160 Creve Coeur Mill Rd, St. Louis, MO 63146. Check-in will be at the Lakehouse Bar and Grill parking lot)
Organized by Open Space Council
Register
Bring: water bottle, work gloves/tools if preferred
Provided: gloves, tools, bug/tick spray
Wear: long-sleeves and pants, clothes you don't mind getting dirty, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen

March 7, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 9, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 11, 9 a.m. noon
Honeysuckle Removal at Castlewood State Park (1401 Kiefer Creek Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021)
Organized by Open Space Council
Register
What to bring: a filled bottle of water—we recommend reusable! Your own work gloves/tools if you have them, bug/tick spray, if preferred
What to wear: dress for the weather, wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, wear closed-toe shoes, wear sunscreen
Provided: gloves and tools, snacks

March 11, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 14, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 14, 1–6 p.m.
Honeysuckle Sweep at Shady Creek (112 W. Kirkham)
Organized by Webster Groves
Contact: steingrubyy@webstergrovesmo.gov
Bring: safety glasses, gloves, water bottle, bug spray, weather appropriate clothing

March 16, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 17, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle Sweep at The Nature Institute (4553 Levis Lane, Godfrey, IL)
Organized by The Nature Institute
Register
Bring: gloves and water, and wear closed-toe shoes with long pants. Safety glasses if preferred
Provided: hand tools

March 18, 8:30 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle Removal at 2350 Creve Coeur Mill Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
Organized by Community Stewardship Alliance
Register

March 18, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 21, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 23, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 25, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle Removal at Crestwood Park (9739 Meadowfern Dr, St. Louis, MO 63126)
Organized by Open Space Council
Register
Recommended ages 12 and older
What to Wear: Long-sleeves and pants, clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen
What to Bring: A filled bottle of water—we recommend reusable, your own work gloves/tools, if preferred—otherwise they will be provided, bug/tick spray, if preferred
Provided: tools and gloves, snacks

March 25, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle Removal and Native Planting at St. Vincent Park
Organized by Community Stewardship Alliance
Register
Wear: dress for the weather, wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen
Bring: a filled bottle of water—we recommend reusable! Your own work gloves/tools if you have them. Bug/tick spray, if preferred

March 25, 9–11 a.m.
Honeysuckle Removal at Spanish Lake County Park
Organized by Larry Conant
Email Larry at l_conant@hotmail.com to sign up

March 25, 9 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 28, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

March 30, 8 a.m.–noon
Honeysuckle and Privet Removal at Shaw Nature Reserve
Organized by Missouri Botanical Garden
Register
Bring: work gloves and safety glasses if you have them

 

Resources

Bush honeysuckle Bush Honeysuckle Removal, Control, Alternatives and MORE: