Asian honeysuckle as firewood?

[papasmurf]

I have been fighting Asian honeysuckle on my property for three years. I am trying to get some good out of it. Is there any reason that I should not use it as fuel in my woodstove? I have a modern Buck stove (no catalytic converter). Thanks.

[kawalekm]

How heavy is it compared to other woods? The primary trait that determines a wood's burning quality is it's density. Light woods like poplar are not as long burning as heavy woods like oak or locust. Will the honeysuckle sprout after cutting? You might want to spray the stumps with herbicide (2,4-D) after cutting.

[CarolAnn]

It would help if you find the exact species that you are fighting. Although I couldn't find a reference about the toxicity of smoke from Asian honeysuckle, I did find this:

Some bush honeysuckle species also release chemicals into the soil to inhibit other plant growth, effectively poisoning the soil.

I do know that burning oleander creates an extremely toxic smoke, so it is possible to have a shrub that does; maybe honeysuckle does too.

I've never seen a honeysuckle that had much branch thickness; it's brushy or a vine - and neither one would give you much mass for fuel. It'd take more work to get enough for a fire than it's worth.

So if you think you want to burn it, (and aren't worried about the toxicity of the smoke) make brush piles outside. Every reference I found for getting rid of honeysuckle said to hack it off and paint the roots with herbacide. My brother in law got theirs out by hooking a chain low on the plant and pulled them out with a tractor.