Japanese Climbing Fern occurs along highway rights-of-way, especially under and around bridges, invading into open forests and forest margins and into stream and swamp areas. It can increase in cover to form mats, especially after burns, smothering shrubs and trees. Creates “fire ladders” to carry fires upward into the forest canopy. It persists and colonizes by rhizomes and spreads by wind-dispersed spores that are also transported in pine straw mulch. The fern dies back in late winter in more northern areas with the dead vines providing a trellis for reestablishment.
You may not want or need to replace this invasive plant, but if you do, options are listed below.
Japanese Climbing Fern is on the Texas Dept. of Agriculture’s list of Noxious Plants which are illegal to sell, distribute or import into Texas.
If you believe you have found Japanese Climbing Fern, please report this at Texasinvasives.org. Click “Take Action”, then “Report It”.
For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.
You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.
Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.
State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
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