Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Swartz
Japanese Climbing Fern| Threat Level | Category |
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| Emerging | Forb/Herb |
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Similar Species May be confused with the following native and/or non-native species. Landscape Alternatives lists native horticultural substitutes |
Lygodium microphyllum Lygodium palmatum |
|---|
Description
Plant
Japanese climbing fern is a perennial viney fern, climbing and twining, to 90 feet (30 m) long, with lacy finely divided leaves along green to orange to black wiry vines, often forming mats of shrub- and tree-covering infestations.Stem
Slender but difficult to break, the stems are wiry, twining and climbing. Green to straw-colored or reddish in hue, the vines arise as branches from underground, widely creeping rhizomes that are slender, black, and wiry. They are mostly deciduous in late winter.Leaves (Fronds)
Leaves occur opposite on the vine and are compound, once- or twice-divided, varying in appearance according to the number of divisions, generally triangular in outline. They are 3 to 6 inches (8 to 15 cm) long and 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) wide. Highly dissected, the fronds appear lacy. They are light green turning dark to tan brown and persisting in winter. They may remain green in Florida and in sheltered places further north.Fertile Fronds
Fertile fronds are usually smaller segments with fingerlike projections around the margins, bearing sporangia (spore producing dots) in double rows under margins.Seeds
Japanese climbing ferns produce tiny, wind-dispersed spores.Images
Photo: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.orgMore images of Lygodium japonicum
Life History
Japanese Climbing Fern, Lygodium japonicum, is a perennial viney fern, that climbs and twines to 90 feet (30 m) in the Lygodiaceae (Climbing Fern) family. It has lacy, finely divided leaves along green to orange to black wiry vines, and often forms mats of shrub- and tree-covering infestations. Tan-brown fronds persist in winter, while plants remain green in Florida and in sheltered places further north. Vines arise as branches from underground, widely creeping rhizomes that are slender, black, and wiry. Persisting and colonizing by rhizomes, it spreads rapidly by wind-dispersed spores. Dies back in late winter with dead vines providing a trellis for reestablishment.Habitat
Japanese climbing fern occurs along highway right-of-ways, especially under and around bridges, invading into open forests, forest road edges, and stream and swamp margins. It is scattered in open timber stands and plantations, but can increase in cover to form mats, smothering shrubs and trees.Origin and Distribution
Native to Asia and tropical Australia, it was introduced from Japan in the 1930s. Often planted as an ornamental, Japanese climbing fern is still being spread by unsuspecting gardeners. Other states where invasive: GA, FL. Federal or state listed as noxious weed, prohibited, invasive or banned: AL, FL.Sources: Information on this plant page is derived primarily from James H. Miller's Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests, USDA Forest Service.
Management Recommendations
3. Chemical ControlFoliar Spray: Thoroughly wet all leaves with one of the following herbicides in water with a surfactant (July to October):
Arsenal AC as a 1-percent solution (4 ounces per 3-gallon mix)
Garlon 3A, Garlon 4, or a glyphosate herbicide as a 2-percent solution (8 ounces per 3-gallon mix)
Escort at 1 to 2 ounces per acre in water (0.3 to 0.6 dry ounces per 3-gallon mix)
Nontarget plants may be killed or injured by root uptake.