Old...........

..............Man's Beard

Botanical name: Clematis vitalba

Old man's beard is a vigorous growing vine which forms a tangled smothering mass over trees and shrubs, blocking out light and eventually killing supporting plants.

One plant is capable of blanketing an area of 180 m2. It seeds profusely and the seed can remain viable in the soil for several years. Stems can provide up to 10 m of growth in a season.

Introduced from Europe as a decorative plant, old man's beard has developed into a major weed problem particularly in the central regions of New Zealand.