Mrs Happy

By Riwaka7

Old mans beard

Clematis vitalba has a pretty flower and a pleasant scent I found when I blipped this one on a walk this morning around a rural road. But don't be deceived. It is a curse because of it's vigourous growth,each stem growing ten metres per season. If a node hits the ground it roots and it can produce 100,000 seeds per year. No wonder it has taken over large sections of our native bush, anything that it can scramble over it will smother. No native trees, no food for native birds, lizards and insects. It interrupts the ecosystem.
Biological controls are being used as is wide spread spraying but really the best way is to dig it out when young. Don't let it get away.

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