INVASIVE PLANT of the month: Japanese Climbing Fern, Lygodium japonicum

Japanese Climbing Fern, Lygodium japonicum, is a Tier 1 invasive that was

brought to Florida in the 1930s. A Tier 1 invasive plant is a plant that is causing

severe or widespread negative impacts on wildlife or natural communities in

Louisiana.This plant is a true fern that produces twining fronds. It spreads by

spores and rhizomes found 1 to 3 cm below the soil surface. It grows in the sun

as well as shade and tolerates a variety of moisture conditions. It quickly climbs

trees and shrubs to the point of smothering and strangling other plants. It will kill

native plants and take over ecosystems. Burning is not effective in controlling this

plant, but removing the buried rhizomes effectively kills the plant. This plant

is sold on the Internet and can be shipped into our state!

I have three spots in my yard that I police for this plant. In my fight to eliminate

this plant, I have succeeded in two locations! Unfortunately, it keeps reappearing

in the other location in spite of my determination. I am diligently digging and

raking the areas where this plant keeps popping up, and have stressed the plant,

but I must be missing rhizomes when raking because it keeps returning.

-Louise Prejean

Photo credit: https://www.lnps.org/japanese-climbing-fern/