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Our studies showed that the presence of L. maackii had a significant negative impact on the flowering of spring ephemerals by effecting understory lighting and temperature. Plots under the natural tree canopy showed much higher flowering, fruiting, and total individual counts of Claytonia virginica than plots obscured by the honeysuckle canopy.
Figure 1: Significantly more ephemeral flowering and fruiting under forest canopy. Total first flowers (Avg FFl), total flowers (Avg TFl), and total fruits (Avg TFr) of C. virginica in non-Honeysuckle plots averaged over the ‘23, ‘24, and ‘25 spring seasons.
Figure 2: Significantly less ephemeral flowering and fruiting under Honeysuckle. Total first flowers (Avg FFl), total flowers (Avg TFl), and total fruits (Avg TFr) of C. virginica in Honeysuckle plots averaged over the ‘23, ‘24, & ‘25 spring seasons.
Figure 3: 2023 trends; Honeysuckle plots experience slightly cooler maximum temperatures later in spring. Daily maximum (Max) and minimum (Min) temperatures of Honeysuckle (H) and non-Honeysuckle (NH) plots. Polynomial (Poly.) trendlines included.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 demonstrate the drastic difference between plots covered by the natural tree canopy and plots obstructed by the honeysuckle canopy. The obstructed plots had extremely low growth levels and also displayed lower temperatures compared to the others.
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