Weed of the month – Old Mans Beard

This weedy vine has taken hold in the Motueka Catchment and it’s affecting the health of the catchment. This is Old Mans Beard or Clematis vitalba.

Old Mans Beard is a deciduous, climbing, layering vine which grows rapidly and smothers and kills all plants to the highest canopy, and prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings.

The Motueka Valley Weedbusters Group has been going for many years and some of the mahi they’ve been doing is clearing old mans beard from QEII covenanted bush. Last year they hosted a weed workshop about how to identify invasive weed species as part of MCC.

In addition, some motivated Brooklyn community members are also taking action. They’ve set up the Brooklyn Old Mans Beard Action Group and have had a number of working bees to help control the vine on people’s properties.

The Pest Management Thematic Group of the MCC has also been set up with some experienced pest and weed management people on it. They are in the process of identifying priority sites to tackle weeds, including Old Mans Beard.