Plant Spotlight

PLANT SPOTLIGHT Lygodium japonicum (Thunberg) Swartz Japanese climbing fern Invasives

Description A perennial fern that climbs and twines around herbs, shrubs, and trees reaching lengths up to 100 feet.

This sporangia fern has two different leaflets depending on the age and location on the vine. The lobes are either long and segmented or rounded and close together, ranging from a vibrant lime green to a deep forest green color.

Distribution Native to eastern Asia (including Korea, India, eastern Australia, and Taiwan), Japanese climbing fern is found worldwide and considered invasive in South and North America, Mexico, Africa, and Hawaii. It prefers temperate to tropical zones.

SPREAD Japanese climbing fern spreads aboveground through spores and belowground through rhizomes, doubling its survival rate. However, the spores are only active in the fall. Any disturbance to the vine during the sporing season will release hundreds of thousands of spores into the habitat to grow new vines.

LONGLEAF IMPACTS This invasive fern is found across most of the longleaf range causing significant damage to both the understory and overstory. Per its name, the vine climbs up trees and large shrubs, creating dense, tangled masses that shade out the tops of the trees. It also overtakes the groundcover, eliminating native plants and animals from the ecosystem. The gopher tortoise and the Red-cockaded Woodpecker are two significant species affected by this invading fern, destroying habitat and diminishing food supplies.

TREATMENT Don’t lose hope – there are management practices and treatments to help stop the spread! The first is to be preventative. Avoid disturbing known infestations in the fall during its sporing season, and speak to your local city mowing crews about doing the same. Be sure to clean off any contaminated equipment or clothing before exiting the site. The next step is using chemical treatment. Herbicide application is the number one way to ensure the eradication of this invasive species. Glyphosate or triclopyr are effective. Always consult with a professional on mixed solutions or attend a herbicide class at your local extension office.

REFERENCES Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2022.

Japanese Climbing Fern. https://myfwc.com/wildlife habitats/habitat/invasive-plants/weed-alerts/japaneseclimbing-fern; last accessed November 17, 2022. EDDMapS. 2022. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping

System. The University of Georgia - Center for Invasive

Species and Ecosystem Health. Available online at http://www.eddmaps.org/; last accessed November 17, 2022.