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Japanese Climbing Fern

Lygodium japonicum

Non-Native

Japanese Climbing Fern Locations in North America
Japanese Climbing Fern Locations in Southeast US
japanese climbing fern

Japanese Climbing fern diagram

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is Japanese Climbing Fern?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Un-lobed leaflets
  • Smooth
  • Lacy
  • Opposite
  • Tan-brown

Stem:

  • Vine
  • Green, orange and black
  • Wiry
  • Up to 90 feet long
  • Vines rise from rhizomes
  • Slender, wiry, black rhizomes

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Japanese climbing fern is non-native to North America and can be found along highways, in forests, or along the edges of wet meadows.

Is it Invasive?

Japanese  climbing fern is non-native to North America and is invasive. This plant forms dense mats on trees and shrubs rapidly.

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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