Native

at e Vines
es
Bower of Beauty
(Pandorea jasminoides)

Weed Vines
Brazilian Nightshade
(Solanum seaforthianum
seaforthianum)
um))

Native vines are an important

part of our natural forests. They
provide food, shelter, refuge
and nesting sites for many
different native animals.
Vigorous vines need large host trees on
which to climb, and may damage smaller
trees. Light climbers are unlikely to affect
even small host plants. Scramblers (or
trailing plants) trail over other plants
without climbing high.

Vine damage to host plant.

Mature large vines may form a substantial part of a forest

canopy. Others may be restricted to trunks and branches of
host trees. Some climbers act as groundcovers or shrubs in
open areas, climb lightly in woodlands and open forests, but
become thick-trunked lianas (vines) in rainforests.

Tape Vine (Native)

(Stephania japonica)

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animals. A tangle of native vines may also provide shelter and
nesting sites. Ringtail Possums often build their dreys (nest of
leaves) here.

Many exotic vines have escaped cultivation

to become weeds. Weed vines smother
native bushland and displace our native
plants. They should be replaced with
native vines or other local native plants.

Native Raspberry
(Rubus rosifolius)

Climbing adaptations of vines help us to identify them.

Some have twining (or coiling) stems. Some have NPEJkFE
leaves or leaf stems for holding onto hosts. The leaves may
CFUPUBMMZNPEJkFEUPGPSNtendrils that hold onto other
plants. Root climbers attach, via roots, to the stems of host
plants. Other climbers have recurved (curving backwards)
thorns, on stems, branches or leaves, that attach to nearby
objects. Some climbers may have a combination of
climbing structures.

Native Vines
Native vines normally do not need controlling,
except when they are growing on small trees in
revegetation areas.

It is natural for a number of trees

in a woodland or forest to be
overcome by climbers.

Native Vines

Natural control of vines is by animals and, in some

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in bushland can maintain natural vine populations.
Native vines are not untidy and useless and do
not need to be removed. Control, if required, is best
achieved by cutting the plant stem and allowing it to
regrow, giving the host plant a chance to get ahead
of the vine.

Native Wisteria
(Callerya megasperma)

Leaves simple with many closelyspaced longitudinal veins.

Scrambling Lily
(Geitonoplesium cymosum)
Weak climber. Similar to Wombat
Berry but has a mid-vein. Coils right
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Birds eat the black fruit.

Leaves simple with many closelyspaced longitudinal veins.

(Eustrephus latifolius)
Weak climber. Similar to Scrambling
Lily but has no mid-vein. Coils right
to left (clockwise). The orangecoloured fruit is food for birds.

Native Vines

Wombat Berry

Leaves simple and with 3 or more

distinct longitudinal veins.

Barbwire Vine
(Smilax australis)
Spikey climber providing good
habitat for birds. Edible fruit.
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Native Vines

Leaves simple, alternate with

heart-shaped base.

False Sarsaparilla
(Hardenbergia violacea)
Scrambling vine with attractive
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(coiling) light climber. Host plant
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Leaves alternate, with tendrils (thin

stem-like coiling threads) produced
opposite the leaves.

Kangaroo Vine
(Cissus antarctica)
Strong climber and good
groundcover. Common in the bush.
Tendril climber.

Leaves alternate, with tendrils (thin

stem-like coiling threads) produced
opposite the leaves.

(Cayratia clematidea)
Scrambler with tendrils.
Host plant for Josephs Coat moth
(pictured).

Native Vines

Slender Grape

Alternate compound or simple

leaves; stem with thorns or prickles.

Native Raspberry
(Rubus species)
Can form dense spiky thickets
perfect for small birds. Edible fruit.

Native Vines

Alternate simple leaves; stem with

thorns or prickles.

Cockspur Thorn
(Maclura cochinchinensis)
A vigorous spiny climber providing
perfect protective habitat for small
birds. Birds eat the fruit.

Alternating compound leaves.

Native Wisteria
(Callerya megasperma)
Vigorous vine with attractive
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(pictured). Compound leaves of
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Alternating compound leaves.

(Kennedia rubicunda)
Vigorous coiling scrambler;
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Native Vines

Dusky Coral Pea

Native Vines

Leaves simple, alternate,

palmately (like a hand) veined.

Richmond Birdwing Vine

(Pararistolochia praevenosa)
Rainforest vine, host for the rare
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A twining climber.

Leaves simple, alternate,

palmately (like a hand) veined.

Round-leaf Vine
(Legnephora moorei)
Vigorous climber. Birds are
attracted to the grape-like fruits.

Leaves simple, alternate,

palmately (like a hand) veined.

(Stephania japonica var. discolor)

Small scrambler. Coils.
Fruit red when ripe. Common.

Native Vines

Tape Vine

Leaves opposite and compound

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Headache Vine
(Clematis glycinoides)
Bushy climber. Leaf stems coil around
supports. Crushed leaves when sniffed
(carefully), reputed to relieve colds
and headaches.

Native Vines

Leaves opposite and compound

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Wonga Vine
(Pandorea pandorana)

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varieties in cultivation. A vigorous
twining climber.

Leaves simple, opposite with latex.

Silkpod / Monkey Rope

(Parsonsia straminea)
Very common vine. Begins as a root
climber and also coils. Provides food
for native bees and wasps.
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(pictured).

Leaves simple, opposite with latex

and basal glands.

(Hoya australis)

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leaves and milky sap. Coiling
climber or scrambler.

Native Vines

Wax Flower

Weed Vines
Most weed vines are imported
plants that have escaped from
gardens or pastures. Weed vines
invade bushland and smother
and displace native plants. They
can destroy natural ecosystems.
Weed vines that have escaped
into bushland are particularly
successful in disturbed areas,
along drainage lines and edges
of forests. Thin strips of riparian
vegetation are extremely

Weed Vines

vulnerable to invasion by vines.

High levels of light on edges of plant

communities and below breaks in the forest
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groundcovers and climbing trees. Vigorous weed
vines can smother trees by covering the leaves,
eventually killing them. The weight of the weed
vines may also break tree trunks and branches.
Imported vine species have an advantage over
local native vines because the natural controls
from their places of origin were not imported
with them.
Weed vines do not provide food for the
variety of native animals that native vines do.
Weed vines often need specialist control
techniques. The current best practice methods
are detailed for each species. Being superbly
adapted as weeds, weed vines have many
reproductive techniques that ensure they can
out-compete our local plants.

When undertaking chemical control

of weed vines it is important to
appropriate safety precautions for
the chemical being used.

Weed Vines

follow all directions and take

Control
techniques
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vary from vine to vine. Always carefully read the
label of the chemical before commencing any work
and always follow label directions. The methods
recommended may change over time as new weed
research is conducted and new products
are registered for use. Check with the council
or the Catchment Association for the most
up-to-date information.

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ingredient is what kills the plant. Some chemicals
have the same amount and type of active ingredient
but are marketed under different brand names.
A 360mg/L Glyphosate product is, for example,
marketed as Weedmaster 360, and Round-up. Zero
contains the same ingredient but in a different
concentration. Using products with any of these
brand names will give the same effect if they have
the same concentration of the active ingredient.

Cut
C
utt and
dP
Paint
aiintt

(also known as Cut Stump or Cut Stem)

1.

Weed Vines

2.

Make a horizontal cut to the

stem of the weed.
Immediately apply herbicide to
the exposed stump.

Note: If the chemical is not applied

within 10 seconds, the plants system
will seal the cut and the chemical
treatment will be ineffective. If
multiple stems of the weed occur in
the one area handfuls can be cut and
painted at the same time.

Foliar Spray

1.

Spray the chemical on to the

leaves of the weed, until the
point of run-off.

Dig up
1.

Note: If the weed reproduces

vegetatively (by growing from plant
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all plant parts.

Basal Bark
1.

Remove the plant by hand

pulling, or digging around the
stem and removing the plant.

Paint all of the trunk of the

plant from the ground to a
height of 30cm.

Cut and Soak (Cut Under)

1.
2.

Cut the stems.

Immediately place both of
the cut ends in a solution of
herbicide for 15 seconds.

Cut low, spray regrowth

1.

Cut the weed low to the ground (remove any plant parts that can
regrow).
2. Allow the plant to regrow until healthy leaves show.
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Stem Scrape
1.

Note: If the chemical is not applied

within 10 seconds, the plant's system
will seal the cut and the chemical
treatment will be ineffective.
Be careful not to ringbark the stem
scrape on one side of the stem only.

Weed Vines

2.

On the stem, use a knife to

scrape away 15-30cm of the
bark/outer layer.
Immediately apply herbicide
along the length of the scrape.

Cats Claw Creeper

(Macfadyena unguis-cati)
Aggressive climber with claw-like climbing structures and
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Reproduces from wind-blown seeds and underground tubers.
Can smother very large trees.

Control methods
r
r
r

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parts Glyphosate 360 and water.
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Glyphosate 360 diluted at 10ml
per 1L.
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Dutchmans Pipe
(Aristolochia elegans)

Weed Vines

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with purple spots. Toxic to larvae of the rare Richmond Birdwing
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pods. Also reproduces vegetatively.

Control methods
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Madeira Vine
(Anredera cordifolia)

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tubers and other plant parts. Can smother large trees.

r
r
r

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parts Glyphosate 360 and water, and
hold for 15 seconds.
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Glyphosate 360 at 10ml per 1L water.
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Weed Vines

Control methods

Morning Glory
(Ipomoea indica)
Very invasive smothering weed. Soft hairy heart-shaped leaves,
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Control methods
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parts with care as this
plant can reproduce
vegetatively
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licensed yet

Mile-a-Minute
(Ipomoea cairica)
Quickly smothers native vegetation. Leaves deeply divided,
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Other control methods

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plants with care as this
plant can reproduce
vegetatively
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licensed yet

Brazillian Nightshade
(Solanum seaforthianum)

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Control methods
r
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paint, foliar spray or
cut low to the ground
and spray regrowth with
Glyphosate as per label
directions.

Moth Vine
(Araujia sericifera)
Robust climber. Leaves triangular with a twisted point. Stems
have milky sap. Fruit green, pear-shaped and choko-like.
Wind-blown seeds. Similar in appearance to the native
Silkpod, which has colourless sap.

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Other control methods

r
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paint with solution of equal parts
Glyphosate 360 and water.
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Weed Vines

Most effective control method

Balloon Vine
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Common along waterways. Seed dispersed by water. Smothers
native vegetation. May be confused with the native Slender
Grape, which has tendrils growing opposite to where the leaves
meet the stem. Balloon Vine has tendrils growing where the leaf
meets the stem; and the fruits are gooseberry-like.

Most effective control method

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per label directions.

Other control methods

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paint with solution of equal parts
Glyphosate 360 and water.

Glycine
(Neonotonia wightii)

Weed Vines

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small bean-like pods.

Control methods
r
r
r

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label directions.
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regrowth with Glyphosate as per
label directions.
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Silver-leaf Desmodium / Velcro Plant

(Desmodium uncinatum)
Scrambling vine with silver central pattern on the leaves.
Velcro-like hairs on all parts of the plant, including seeds.
The seeds and other plant parts are very sticky and have been
known to entwine and kill small birds and other animals.

Control methods
r
r
r

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label directions.
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regrowth with Glyphosate as per
label directions.
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Black-eyed Susan
(Thunbergia alata)

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black centre. Leaves arrow-shaped or heart-shaped, with wavy
margins.

r
r

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as per label directions.
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and spray regrowth with
Glyphosate as per label
directions.
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Weed Vines

Control methods

Climbing Asparagus Fern

(Asparagus africanus)

Weed Vines

Aggressive climber with bird-attracting bright orange fruit.

Prickly stems and narrow fern-like leaves. Smothers native plants.

Control methods
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and other plant parts.
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(Hylocereus undatus)

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host tree. Spreads from pieces or seeds.

Control methods
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Glyphosate as per label
directions.
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Exotic Passion Vines

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All native passion vines have two glands (bumps) on the stalk
near the leaf; exotics have glands further from the leaf.

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solution of equal parts
Glyphosate and water.

Weed Vines

Control methods

Kudzu, Kudzu vine

(Pueraria montana var. lobata; syn. P. lobata)
This is a perennial vine (native to Asia) that grows rapidly and
can reach 20 30m in length. It can reproduce vegetatively.
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This vine is a serious weed that will completely smother native
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Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002.

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Weed Vines

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know of any other infestation
and telephone Primary Indus
on 13 25 23.

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may be lobed or unlobed), each up to 10cm across. Leaves are
dropped during winter in South East Queensland. The roots of
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and are produced in long racemes. Seeds are rarely produced
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contains 3 10 small, hard, oval seeds.
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with the kind permission of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland)

Thanks to Nathan Kirby for many of the photos used in this

booklet.

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ns, please advise council and
stries and Fisheries, Queensland

Weed Vines

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This brochure is printed on Raleigh ecoStar paper. ecoStar is a

100% recycled uncoated paper, independently certied by the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and manufactured under the
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An Environmentally
Responsible Product

Sunshine
Coast

Bribie
Island

Caboolture
Somerset
Region

MORETON BAY
REGION
Redcliffe

Strathpine

Moreton Bay

Port of
Brisbane

Brisbane

MORETON BAY
REGION

North
Stradbro
Island

This brochure is one in the series,

Living with the Environment,
produced by Moreton Bay Regional Council.
These brochures feature the many
marvellous plants, animals and other natural
features of the region. They are designed to
help residents know, understand, love and
conserve our unique natural heritage.

Moreton Bay Regional Council 2010