Far from cute and cuddly, this invasive vine wreaks havoc with its rapid, smothering growth and strong root system.
Cat’s claw creeper is a Weed of National Significance originating in Central and South America. Firstly, it is highly invasive in warmer regions, growing in bushland, plantations, roadsides, fences and abandoned areas. However, it is most destructive along waterways and adjacent wetlands and rainforests, climbing through the canopy and spreading over the forest floor choking everything in its path. The vine’s strength, weight and shading cause significant changes to the ecosystem, reducing biodiversity and bringing down mature trees. Eventually, over time the vine becomes thick and woody, and spreads quickly by seed and underground tubers along its extensive root system. Cat’s claw creeper is also found in older home gardens as it was once promoted as an ornamental plant. Evidently it is not permitted to be sold in NSW.
Description
Cat’s claw creeper is basically a woody vine with opposite, paired leaves. Between each leaflet is a tendril with three hooks (cat’s claw) that the vine uses to grip and climb. It produces large, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers in spring which develop into long thin seed pods with 40-80 winged seeds in each pod. Generally, Cat’s claw creeper grows in full sun and shade and tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Once established, Cat’s claw creeper is very difficult to remove. You must dig out young plants and seedlings immediately. Mature plants usually require herbicide to treat properly and must be followed up for a number of years. Fortunately, a biological control beetle is available to help manage large infestations.
Think you might have Cat's claw creeper?
If you see Cat’s claw creeper in your garden, please contact Council’s Biosecurity officer for advice. You can also find Cat’s claw creeper on NSW WeedWise. https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/CatsClawCreeper
