Old man's beard in New Zealand

Old man's beard (Clematis vitalba) is an invasive plant in New Zealand that affects indigenous biodiversity.

Old man's beard was introduced into New Zealand as an ornamental plant some time before 1922 and the Department of Conservation and other government organisations now spend millions of dollars on its control.

[2] Old man's beard is a climber that will smother established trees and forms a dense canopy that stops sunlight reaching the soil surface.

Large vines can be cut at ground level and a herbicide gel applied to prevent sprouting.

[1] A public service campaign highlighting the threat of old man's beard was carried out by the Department of Conservation in the 1980s using the British naturalist David Bellamy as the spokesperson.