Bridal creeper, Bridal veil creeper, Smilax
| Botanical Name | Asparagus asparagoides |
|---|---|
| Family | Liliaceae |
| Origin | South Africa |
Identification
Summer-green scrambling or twining plant, roots tuberous. Stem to 3 m long, tortuous. Solitary cladodes (leaf-like stem projections) growing at each node along main stem distinguish this species.Habitats
Locally common. Bluffs, open rocklands and rubble slopes, lowland rocky communities, gumlands and pakihi, dry lowland shrublands, roadsides, hedges, wastelands, coastal shoreline communities and open pohutukawa forest, inshore and offshore islands. Thrives in impoverished soils and bare rock situations but also does well in volcanic soils. Likes good drainage.Impact to Biota and Ecosystems
Forms a dense mat and smothers low growing plants and regenerating seedlings of canopy species. At risk are communities of stunted or low growing native plants and regenerating coastal canopy species such as pohutukawa and kowhai.Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation Sources
Spread along coasts and roadsides by soil and water movement, also dispersed by birds and garden waste.Management
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Management |
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| Physical Control |
Grubbing should only be used to control smaller scattered plants, because breaking the sward tends to encourage seeds to germinate. |
| Disposal |
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| Chemical Control |
Spray only when the plant is actively growing.
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Biological Control |
Bridal Creeper rust, Puccinia myrsiphylli was first found in the Auckland area in 2005. It has since spread to many sites in the Bay of Plenty. It is thought that it was self-introduced from Australia. |
| Recommended Approach |
Glyphosate and Penetrant as above |
Further Comment
For further information please refer to Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Fact Sheet on Climbing Plants.
This plant is prohibited from propagation, sale and distribution within New Zealand!