Japanese climbing fern: Lygodium japonicum (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae)

Japanese climbing fern
Polypodiales > Lygodiaceae > Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Sw.
Japanese climbing fern is a perennial climbing fern that can reach lengths of 90 ft. (30 m). Vines are thin, wiry, green to orange to black and usually die back in the winter. The fronds (leaves of a fern) are opposite, compound, usually triangular in shape, 3-6 in. (8-15 cm) long, 2-3 in. (5-8 cm) wide and finely dissected. Fertile fronds bear sporangia that produce tiny, wind-dispersed spores. Plants are also spread by rhizomes. Japanese climbing fern often invades disturbed areas such as roadsides and ditches, but can also invade natural areas. It generally is scattered throughout the landscape, but can form dense mats that smother understory vegetation, shrubs and trees. Japanese climbing fern is native to eastern Asia and was first introduced into the United States during the 1930s for ornamental purposes.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Invasive Plant Responses to Silvicultural Practices in the South - University of Georgia

Invasive Plants of Asian Origin Established in the United States and Their Natural Enemies - Volume 2 - USDA Forest Service

Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Prescriptions for Specific Nonnative Invasive Plants - USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Foliage; Fertile fronds Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); September James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Foliage; Spore-producing fronds. Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Feature(s); Richard Old, XID Services, Inc., Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); Vines and Fronds. Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); September Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Plant(s); Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Plant(s); Ronald F. Billings, Texas Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Infesting a planted pine stand, GA Wayne Williamson, , Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Infestation; Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Feature(s); January James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Infestation; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Prescribed Fire; Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org 768x512	Infestation; Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Control; glyphosate mixture. Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024
Control; Backpack sprayer, glyphosate treatment. Tift County, GA Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Dispersal; Plant in a pine straw bale Dennis Teague, U.S. Air Force, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024	Diagram or Graphic; USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org 768x512 / 1536x1024

Invasive Reference(s):

Check Invasive.org for most current lists.

Alabama - Noxious Weed Law
Alabama - IPC List
Florida - EPPC list
Georgia - EPPC list
South Carolina - EPPC List
Texas - Invasive Plant List
Invasive Plant Atlas of the Mid-South

External Links


				Bargeron, C.T., C.R. Minteer, C.W. Evans, D.J. Moorhead, G.K. Douce and R.C. Reardon. Technical Coordinators. 2008. Invasive Plants of the United States DVD-ROM: Identification, Biology and Control. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Morgantown, WV. FHTET-08-11.