Old man's beard now on show

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 680, 1 April 1997, Page 5

Old man's beard now on show

If you see a clematis flowering now it is probably old man's beard. Un like native clematis old man's beard flowers at this time of year, from late December to early April. Native clematis has three leaflets while the pest old man's beard has five leaflets. Other distinguishing features include stems with the furrows running longitudinally. From March to August seeds are conspicuous, forming greyish-whitefluffy seed balls. Each seed is attached to a plume-like attachment that helps the plant to disperse far and wide. It is these seed heads that gi ve the plant its name. Because it smothers supporting plants

and can grown in a wide range of conditions old man's beard is a serious problem. Two cuts Control is best achieved by making two cuts to vines. One at waist height and one at ground level. Herbicide should be painted on both of the cut stumps. Escort is known to work, at a ratio of five grams per 1 0 litres of water. Old man's beard is found in most populated areas in this region. In the North Island it is a particular problem around Wellington, Wanganui and Hawkes Bay. In the South Island this plant is widely distributed between Christchurch and Nelson.