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Japanese Climbing Fern Lygodium japonicum

Phonetic Spelling
ly-GO-dee-um juh-PON-ih-kum
Description

Japanese climbing fern is a terrestrial, subterranean, creeping fern in the Schizaeaceae (climbing fern) family. It can grow to 90 feet covering shrubs and trees. The root system is rhizomatous and forms a dense mat up to 10 feet deep. The spores form along the margins of the lacy fronds and are dispersed by the wind. It is evergreen in tropical areas and deciduous in areas with frost.

The plant will grow in both sun and shade in both disturbed and undisturbed areas. It grows in moist habitats but can also be found in dry pine flatlands. Control is difficult and it will quickly grow back after a burn so can not be controlled by fire. Herbicides have had some effect.

The European Union has listed it on the Invasive Alien Species of Union concern.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Vine with fern leaves
  • Fronds have elongated pinnules and twining rachis
  • Sori borne on finger-like lobes of pinnules

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:  It can grow quickly to cover trees and shade them out.  It also creates mats over the ground preventing seed germination.  Japanese Climbing Fern is listed as invasive by the NC Native Plant Society. It is considered invasive in several southern states and a noxious weed in Florida.  See alternatives to the left.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#deciduous#vigorous#shade garden#lacy leaves#fern#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#deer resistant#fantz#weedy vine#vine#tropical feel#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#hardy#deciduous#vigorous#shade garden#lacy leaves#fern#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#deer resistant#fantz#weedy vine#vine#tropical feel#weed
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lygodium
    Species:
    japonicum
    Family:
    Schizaeaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use and for its stems, which are used in basketry.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Japan, Tropical Asia, Austrailia
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, NC, PA, PR, SC, TX
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Heavy shade, Deer
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Ascending
    Climbing
    Creeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    24-60 feet
    more than 60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via wind dispersed spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Slippery
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    The twice-pinnately compound leaves are vinelike fronds that can grow 90 feet long. Leaflets are usually triangular in shape, 3-6 in. long, 2-3 in. wide and finely dissected with hairs on the undersurface. They are pinnately compound to decompound and dimorphic. Pinnae are borne on rachis in distant pairs on short stalks. The sterile pinnae is entire to serrate, with an elongated terminal pinnul. Lateral pinnules are 2-3 per side and are unequal. The smaller pinnaes are fertile, with pinnules developing finger-like lobes. Stipes and rachis are wiry and twinging.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Black
    Green
    Orange
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Vines are thin, wiry, green to orange to black, very strong and twining
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Problems:
    Weedy