About Old Man’s Beard Clematis

Clematis vitalba is a deciduous, woody vine that can grow over 65 feet in length or height. The leaves are pinnately compound, Old Man’s Beard consisting of usually 5 leaflets. The leaflet If you would like weed identification, margins are usually entire, but variable site-specific control recommendations or additional noxious weed information, Clematis and sometimes 3-lobed. Plants reproduce by (Clematis vitalba) fragmentation, rooting at stem nodes, and contact the San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Program. prolific amounts of seed (as many as 3,400 per sq. ft.). Seeds are primarily spread by wind, wildlife, water and disturbance. The common Class C Noxious Weed name, old man’s beard, is from the seed stage of the flower, when a mass of white, feathery styles extend from the small hairy seeds, which aid in further dispersal. (Control required in San Juan County)

Why control Clematis vitalba?

The rapid growth rate of the heavy vines can aggressively smother forbs, shrubs, and trees. The heavy biomass that forms in infested forest canopies creates hazards from falling debris, San Juan County Noxious provides ladder fuel for wildfires, and also Weed Control Program increases a tree’s susceptibility to windfall. The 2020 dense growth of woody vines that forms in forest understories are exceedingly difficult to control once established. It provides extremely poor habitat for local wildlife and insects.

Before you begin: P.O. Box 1634

Create a plan for restoration before removing or weeds or disturbing the soil. C. vitalba seeds 62 Henry Road #26 germinate much more easily on disturbed soil. Eastsound, WA 98245 If desirable vegetation is not present, newly (360) 376-3499 exposed soil can be sown with native or non- invasive perennial grasses. [email protected] [email protected]

https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/noxious/

All photos credit SJCNWCP, unless otherwise noted. Flowers & leaves

Special thanks to the Washington State & King County Noxious Weed Control Boards.

Mature seeds Infested trees, Eastsound Clematis vitalba Removal Keeping the cut vines out of contact with the Triclopyr can be applied to foliage and stems By law, herbicides must be used in strict soil will prevent them from re-rooting. Never any time plants are actively growing, except accordance with label instructions. attempt to pull mature vines from infested tree early spring. Aminopyralid, 2,4-D, and imazapyr Research on effective and safe herbicide use is on-going and crowns. should also provide good control. often contradictory. For more recent information contact the San Juan County Noxious Weed Control Program. The best time to cut is when the plant is in bud Basal/Stem spray: In fall, apply high label or flower stage, before producing seeds. rates of an oil-based triclopyr (BEE) to the Timing Although effective in stopping seed production basal portion of selected stems. An additional Removal is best done in winter or spring, when and reducing biomass, C. vitalba is not surfactant may be necessary for the active soils are moist, roots are easier to extract, and eradicated by cutting. Eradication will require ingredient to penetrate the bark and enter the negative effects on off-target species are additional manual, mechanical, cultural or vascular system. reduced. Attention should be given to ensure chemical control efforts to achieve eradication. Follow-up the small seeds are not scattered or carried Cultural Control offsite during removal, as they can easily Disposal Methods: Woody debris can be Competition: C. vitalba is shade-intolerant, chipped, burned, or placed on a tarp to dry out. adhere to clothing, equipment, or disperse in and may be partially controlled in forest under- wind. To prevent rooting, never leave freshly cut stories by repeatedly cutting climbing plants Tools for Clematis Removal vines in contact with the soil. Vines may cause and maintaining a closed canopy. chipper complications. Never use chipped Please do not attempt to pull C. vitalba vines Sheet mulching: Sheet mulching is effective material that may contain seeds as mulch. down from infested tree crowns. Hazard tree in smothering and suppressing seedlings, but Site Restoration: Mulch and/or re-seed bare limbs and heavy Clematis debris can cause will not control mature vines. serious injury. We strongly recommend always ground with native or non-invasive perennial Biological Control grasses as soon as possible after any ground- using the proper protective equipment. Toxic if ingested, it may also cause dermatological Biological control agents have not been disturbing activities, to reduce erosion and reactions, which can be severe for some approved in the United States due to concerns subsequent weed invasions. for impacts on other Clematis species. people. Other Noteworthy Clematis Species

 Gloves, protective clothing and eyewear; a Targeted Grazing: Sheep can provide good If you enjoy old man’s beard Clematis, please hardhat may be advisable when working under control at ground level by grazing seedlings consider instead growing the similar, native, and young plants. heavily infested forest canopies Western Clematis (Clematis ligusticifolia), or Chemical Control another non-invasive Clematis species. There  Handsaw, chainsaw, loppers, brush cutter, claw mattock, shovel Always follow label instructions to find the is a wide variety of species and cultivars

 Appropriate herbicide and equipment, correct herbicide concentration and timing for to choose from that lack the highly detrimental your site and the method you plan to use. qualities of C. vitalba. Oriental Clematis (C. if needed orientalis), a similarly invasive species, is a Manual and Mechanical Control Timing: In general, systemic herbicide applications are more effective in spring or Class A Noxious Weed in Washington State Pulling/Digging: Uproot seedlings and in the fall, when soil is moist. Avoid using that must be reported and eradicated if found. young plants when the soil is moist and loose. herbicides when soil is dry or plants are Follow vines back to their source and dig, stressed. Adding a dye marker can help reduce firmly pull the stem near its base, or use a the amount of herbicide applied. weed wrench. C. vitalba vines can produce roots when in contact with soil, and you may Cut-stump treatment: Cut the vine at waist find that vines are rooted multiple times over height and again at ground level before considerable distances. Use a claw mattock or applying triclopyr or glyphosate to the cambium shovel to loosen the dirt around roots of plants of both cut ends, which is the area around the before pulling them out. edges of cut stems. Applications should be made immediately after cutting to ensure effect. Cutting: For young or low-growing plants, use a mower, brush cutter, or loppers to Spot spray: Advisable for low growing plants repeatedly cut above-ground vegetation. Cut only. Glyphosate is most effective on new mature vines a few feet above the ground and growth in the spring, after cutting back to waist height in the winter. again at the base. Oriental Clematis (Clematis orientalis), Class A Noxious Weed