Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial, woody vine, which was introduced into the United States from eastern Asia as an ornamental. It has spread from Massachusetts to Iowa, southward to Florida and west into Texas, where it frequently forms monoculture stands beneath the forest canopy, eliminating competition from native plants. The vines entwine tightly around the trunks of saplings and larger trees and may completely cover and choke them out within a few years. Although Japanese honeysuckle is highly invasive and causes extensive economic and environmental damage, it still occasionally is sold as an ornamental by nurseries because of its fragrant, colorful flowers. During the winter, birds consume the fruits, and the vines are browsed heavily by deer. This creates conflicts of interest between proponents of the plant for wildlife benefit and those concerned with its control.

The stems may be either trailing or climbing. Young stems are green to reddish and are very hairy. Older stems are grey and brittle. Stems root freely at the nodes, and form an extensive rhizome system. The leaves are opposite and are oval to oblong with a rounded base. They may be either smooth or hairy, and occasionally are distinctly lobed. The fragrant flowers are somewhat trumpet-shaped and have two lips, the larger of which has three short lobes. They are white, turning subsequently to yellow, and are arranged in pairs along the stems. Flowering begins in early spring and continues well into November. Glossy, nearly spherical black berries are produce in the fall. Each berry contains several, black oblong seeds. Seeds are distributed widely in droppings from birds and small mammals.