Texas FFA Nursery Landscape Practice Exam

Which plant is classified as a vine?

1. Ficus benjamina

2. Lonicera japonica

3. Ilex cornuta

4. Pinus thunbergiana

The correct answer is: Lonicera japonica

Lonicera japonica, commonly known as Japanese honeysuckle, is classified as a vine because it exhibits the growth habit characteristic of climbing or sprawling plants. Vines are typically defined by their ability to latch onto structures or other plants for support as they grow. Lonicera japonica features flexible, trailing stems that can twist and climb, often covering large areas quickly. This ability to grow rapidly and attach itself to different surfaces makes it a quintessential example of a vine. In contrast, the other plants in the question are not considered vines. Ficus benjamina, known as the weeping fig, is a tree or shrub that typically grows upright. Ilex cornuta, or Chinese holly, is a shrub that maintains a more compact, bushy form. Pinus thunbergiana, known as Japanese black pine, is a coniferous tree that grows vertically and does not have the climbing nature associated with vines. Each of these plants is better categorized as a tree or shrub, highlighting the distinctive growth form that defines Lonicera japonica as a vine.