Bushkiller Causonis japonica
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cayratia japonica
- Phonetic Spelling
- kaw-SOH-niss ja-PO-ni-ka
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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Bushkiller is an invasive perennial herbaceous vine native to Tropical and Subtropical Asia, Australia and the West Pacific in the Grape family. It has been found in the Piedmont areas of NC so far. This vine can grow up to 40 feet long and climbs by long tendrils. In North America, it spreads vegetatively by rhizomes and adventitious roots when the roots are cut or disturbed. It has not been demonstrated to produce viable seeds here as it does in its native range.
Flowers occur in late summer and are pinkish orange, cup-shaped and occur in umbrels. The leaves are compound with 5 leaflets. The fruits are either white or purple with 2-4 seeds each.
Bushkkiller tolerates shade and full sun. It grows in damp deciduous areas along streams and ponds, developed and cultivated areas, and gardens.
The vine is invasive and out-competes native plants and stresses native trees by blocking sunlight and breaking branches due to its weight. It is sometimes confused with the native Virginia creeper as this vine also has 5 toothed leaflets but the terminal leaflet has no stem.
It can be difficult to control as it regenerates from rhizomes. Cutting it down to the ground and treating it with herbicides has had some success.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council and on the NC noxious weed list.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Causonis
- Species:
- japonica
- Family:
- Vitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and Subtropical Asia, Australia and the West Pacific
- Distribution:
- HI, LA, MS, NC, TX
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- White or purple grape-like fruit with 2-4 triangular seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small cup-shaped pinkish or yellowish flowers occur in umbrels late summer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The green leaves are compound with five leaflets, 2 on each side and one at the tip with a longer stem. Margins are toothed and the undersides are whitish in color. Hairs can be present on both surfaces. Leaflets are 1-3 inches long and 1/2 to 1.5 inches wide. New growth can have a reddish color. Tendrils grow opposite of the leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Angular
- Stem Description:
- Stems are laterally flattened. Cut stems produce a sticky exudate. Branches can have a purplish-green color
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Weedy
