Old man’s beard

Clematis vitalba

On this page:

What does it look like? - Old man's beard •
Why is it a pest? •
Responsibility for control •
Control methods •
More information

Management programme

Progressive containment

Objectives

Reduce the amount of old man’s beard and limit the locations that have it within the Waikato region, including in wetlands.

Impacts

Economic, biodiversity, social and cultural wellbeing, amenity/recreation

Old man’s beard is generally recognised as the most damaging introduced climbing plant in New Zealand. One plant can blanket an area up to 180 square metres. A native of Europe, old man’s beard was introduced as an ornamental plant. Since then, its spread in the Waikato has been recorded across the region, mainly in the King Country, Taupō and Hamilton.

What does it look like?

Old man’s beard is a deciduous, layering climbing vine with long ribbed, woody stems. It can be mistaken for native clematis species, however the identifying characteristics described below will help you to distinguish them.

Old man’s beard

Flowers

Small (2cm-3cm in diameter) four-petalled flower, creamy white and sweet scented.
Produced in summer to Autumn (December to May).

Fruit/seeds

Seeds are grey and hairy (2mm-3mm long) with distinct white plumes (3cm-4cm long).
Produced in dense, fluffy clusters (seed heads) in autumn, that persist on the plant over winter (hence the name old man’s beard).

Leaves

Opposite leaves comprised of five (rarely three) widely spaced leaflets.
Leaflets have a dull green surface, are thin and papery, and sparsely hairy.
Leaves are lost in autumn/winter.

Stems

Woody stems have six prominent ribs (appear as furrows on older vines).
Stem bark is pale and easy to rub off.

Image -
Old man's beard. Source: Otago Regional council

Image source: Otago Regional Council

Native clematis (e.g. Clematis foetida, C. forsteri, C. paniculata)

Flowers

Most native species flower from spring to early summer (September to November).
Flowers usually five or six petalled (depending on species).

Fruit/seeds

This varies between native clematis species, but many are similar to old man’s beard,

Leaves

Leaves usually have groups of three leaflets, but occasionally six or nine (e.g. in juvenile Clematis foetida).
Leaflets generally thicker than those in old man’s beard, and darker often glossy green.

Why is it a pest?

Old man’s beard is an extremely vigorous climber. It can blanket desirable trees and shrubs and the vegetation in between, blocking out light, preventing regeneration and eventually strangling the supporting plants. It is a particular problem in secondary or modified primary forests, but can also infest roadsides, hedgerows, disturbed sites, and wetlands. It is tolerant of cold, moderate shade, damp, salt, and most soil types.

New infestations can come from dumped garden waste, and from the long-lived seeds that can spread widely via wind and water. New plants can also grow from sections of stem that can reroot when they touch the ground.

Responsibility for control

Waikato Regional Council is responsible for the control of old man’s beard within the Waikato region. If you think you’ve seen it, call us – don’t try to control it yourself.

All occupiers are encouraged to report old man’s beard on their properties (rule OMB-1 of the Waikato Regional Pest Manangement Plan 2022-2032) and to liaise with Waikato Regional Council in areas where control programmes are in place.

No one in the Waikato region is allowed to propagate, release or spread within wetlands, old man’s beard or any of the other species listed in Table 14 and 15, section 6.5.3 of the RPMP (rule WET-1).

Waikato Regional Council may also control old man’s beard on your property within 20 metres of the boundary of a wetland where that wetland is clear or being cleared of old man’s beard or any of the other species listed in Table 14, section 6.5.3 in the RPMP (rule GNR WET-3).

If old man’s beard is present on a property that is to be subdivided or developed, there are additional rules and requirements that apply under section 6.6 of the RPMP 2022-2032.

Old man’s beard is banned from being sold, propagated, distributed, or included in commercial displays.

Control methods

If you see old man’s beard on your property, please report it to our pest plant staff, and we will work with you to control it. Call 0800 800 401 to report it to your local biosecurity pest plant officer.