Old man's beard is considered to be one of the most damaging climbing plants introduced to New Zealand because it smothers the plants and trees it grows on. This makes it a threat to Otago’s biodiversity. It spreads easily, and stems on the ground can take root and produce new plants. It can produce 1000 seeds per square metre, which stay in the soil or are spread by wind, water and birds. It also grows quickly; a stem can produce up to 10 metres of new growth in a season.

Old man's beard is found across Otago.

• Size: This climbing, layering vine can attach to host plants to form vines up to 20 m tall.
• Leaves: Arranged in opposite pairs on the stem with five leaflets per stem. The young vines have ribs running up and down the vine and mature vines have stringy, pale brown bark. Old vines are woody and stringy, often grey in colour and can be 6-7cm thick.
• Flowers: Creamy white flowers are followed by grey, hairy seeds with distinctive white plumes.
• Root system: Fibrous with a network of thin, branching roots.
• Similar species: Old Man’s Beard can be distinguished from native Clematis as it has five leaflets per stem, whereas most native Clematis only have three leaflets per stem.
• Habitat: It grows in a variety of environments including gardens, hedges, along roadsides and riverbanks, in native bush, commercial forest and shelter belts. It thrives in the shade and is frost tolerant.

Old man's beard flowers from December till April. The fluffy, beard-like seed heads are visible from April till August.

To reduce the spread of old man's beard in Otago and minimise or prevent negative effects on economic wellbeing and the environment, old man's beard is in the progressive containment programme of the Otago Regional Pest Management Plan (2019-2029).

Everyone in Otago must eliminate old man's beard on the land they occupy. This is to ensure infestation levels are reduced and threats to environmental values and biodiversity are minimised.

There is also a good neighbour rule for old man's beard, which states that if your neighbour is controlling old man's beard within 20m of your shared boundary then you need to be a good neighbour and do the same so efforts are not fruitless.

Physical control: 

• Trace the vine back to its roots.
• Either hand pull any small vines or cut close to the ground and dig out the roots.
• Cut vines can be left in the tree to break down naturally.
• Take out a section of the vine above the cut stump to ensure hanging vines are not in contact with the ground, as vines can take root and grow a new plant.

Chemical control:

• Large infestations can be sprayed, and this should be done during flowering / prior to seeding.
• Vines may need to be re-treated or new seedlings removed.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed. 

Disclaimer: Mention of product trade names does not endorse these products nor imply criticism of similar products not mentioned. The Otago Regional Council does not give any warranty that the information is accurate or complete or that it is suitable for all circumstances. 

• To prevent damage to the host plant, you can leave vines above the cut to break down naturally. The vegetation will start to wilt within a few days. Where there's no wilting, start at the live foliage and work back to check for vines you may have missed.
• Where there are multiple stems, treat all stems or dig out entire root systems.
• Check the stump regularly for regrowth and treat again if needed.
• If it's growing in a hedge and is hard to trace, two people are better than one – one person tugs on the vine and the other person traces it back to the ground.
• If it's growing on a common boundary, talk to your neighbour and deal with the situation together.

ORC biosecurity officers inspect properties around Otago during the summer months for old man's beard.

• If non-compliance is found, property owners will be issued with a non-compliance notice.
• A second inspection will take place after 4-5 weeks and if no action has been taken, a notice of direction will be issued.
• If no action has been taken by the next inspection in 2-3 weeks, this will be followed by an infringement notice.

ORC biosecurity officers are warranted, giving them legal authorisation under the Biosecurity Act to enter properties and inspect for pest plants.

www.orc.govt.nz/oldmansbeard