Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Caution

Can Alpacas Eat Japanese Honeysuckle?

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) — a vine. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation.

Occasional nibbles are usually tolerated, but problems occur with large amounts, certain plant stages or vulnerable animals.

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). Photo: William Rafti of the William Rafti Institute, aka Rafti Institute at en.wikipedia. Original watermark removed by Ms. hav, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Caution
Scientific name
Lonicera japonica
Family
Caprifoliaceae
Plant type
Vine
Toxic parts
Berries of some honeysuckle species
Toxic compound
Saponins (berries)

Why it matters

Leaves and vines are browsed heavily by goats and camelids without problems. Berries of some ornamental honeysuckles can cause mild digestive upset.

Signs of Japanese honeysuckle poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling
  • Loss of appetite

If your alpaca ate a lot of Japanese honeysuckle

  1. Remove access and estimate how much was eaten.
  2. Watch for the signs listed above over the next 24–72 hours.
  3. Call your vet if any signs appear or if a pregnant, young or sick animal ate a large amount.
  4. Reduce the plant in your pasture and keep good forage available so alpacas aren't driven to eat it.

About the plant

Lonicera japonica, known as Japanese honeysuckle and golden-and-silver honeysuckle, is a species of honeysuckle native to East Asia, including many parts of China. It is often grown as an ornamental plant, but has become an invasive species in a number of countries. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine.From Wikipedia — “Lonicera japonica”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 107,725 recorded observations of Lonicera japonica Thunb. worldwide, including 59,308 in the United States. It belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is Japanese honeysuckle poisonous to alpacas?
It can be. Use caution — it depends on the amount and the situation. Leaves and vines are browsed heavily by goats and camelids without problems. Berries of some ornamental honeysuckles can cause mild digestive upset.
What part of Japanese honeysuckle is toxic to alpacas?
Berries of some honeysuckle species.
What are the symptoms of Japanese honeysuckle poisoning?
Drooling and loss of appetite.
Is dried Japanese honeysuckle safe?
Drying does not reliably make poisonous plants safe. Treat dried leaves and contaminated hay with the same caution.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q161083.