Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
First reported in the wild
pre-1866
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of Medium Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Ornamental purpose
Invasive score
17
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Deciduous climber can grow up to 30m in length, leaves pinnate & opposite, flowers in dense white clusters (hence old man's beard) (Stace, 1997).
Ecology
Generally appears to be more vigorous in its introduced range than in native regions. No impacts documented in Ireland but considered a serious pest in New Zealand and listed as a weed in North America. Described in Hill et al., (2001) "Vines can climb the tallest forest trees, forming a dense, light-absorbing canopy that suppresses all vegetation beneath it. C. vitalba can be so vigorous that the weight of foliage and stems breaks the supporting trees, reducing once-healthy forest to a low, long-lived thicket of vines scrambling over stumps and log". Currently the subject of biocontrol programs in New Zealand (Ogle et al., 2000).
Habitat
Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat; Constructed, industrial or other artificial habitats; Miscellaneous; Woodland, forest and other wooded land
Reproduction
Seed production was measured at 780 of viable seeds/m² per year in New Zealand with 160-900 seeds/m² in the soil, with estimates for seed persistence of 5-10 years in the soil (West, 1992).
Pathway and vector description
Common garden escape (Reynolds, 2002).
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Bio-fouling
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Mainly found on alkaline soils, common in hedgerows and roadsides (Reynolds, 2002; Stace, 1997).
Species group
Plant
Native region
Europe, Temperate Asia
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Widespread & Common. Naturalised in hedgerows and on roadsides (Reynolds, 2002).
Native distribution
Native to Europe, including Britain, and parts of Asia, including Georgia, Iran and Syria, introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America (Ogle et al., 2000).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
Pre-1900
Fifty year date category
Unknown
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
References
Publications
Reynolds, S.C.P. (2002) A catalogue of alien plants in Ireland. National Botanic Gardens. Glasnevin, Dublin.
Stace, C. (1997). New Flora of the British Isles 2nd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
West CJ, (1992.) Ecological Studies of Clematis vitalba (old man's beard) in New Zealand. DSIR Land Resources Vegetation Report No. 736.
Ogle, C. C., La Cock, G. D., Arnold, G., & Mickleson, N. (2000). Impact of an exotic vine Clematis vitalba (F. Ranunculaceae) and of control measures on plant biodiversity in indigenous forest, Taihape, New Zealand. Austral Ecology, 25(5), 539-551.
Hill, R. L., Wittenberg, R., & Gourlay, A. H. (2001). Biology and host range of Phytomyza vitalbae and its establishment for the biological control of Clematis vitalba in New Zealand. Biocontrol Science and Technology, 11(4), 459-473.