What does it look like?
Chilean flame creeper is a perennial vine that dies back in winter. Each spring, it re-sprouts from a fleshy underground root. It produces vibrant red flowers from November onwards followed by deep blue fruits that are eaten by birds.
Why is it a problem?
Chilean flame creeper is invasive along the bush edge and in light gaps where it forms a curtain that smothers native trees and shrubs. Chilean flame creeper is difficult to completely remove from an area once it has established.
Control methods
Physical control
- Hand pull seedlings if you get to them while they are young. Care is required to ensure the underground root is completely removed, otherwise the vines will re-grow.
- Pulling down vines or cutting at knee height can help release vegetation being smothered by Chilean flame creeper. Vines gathered on the ground can be sprayed as suggested below.
Herbicide control
- Spraying: Chilean flame creeper has proven difficult to control by spraying. A suggested method is to use Organic Interceptor (100 ml/L water) where other vegetation may be harmed. Where a dense curtain of Chilean flame creeper occurs, glyphosate (20 ml + penetrant/L water) or Grazon (6 ml/L water) can be used, but care is required to make sure other vegetation is not damaged.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
Chilean flame creeper is not known to exist in the Hawke’s Bay region.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationUnwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Organism of Interest (OOI)
Organisms of Interest are those specified as pests under our Regional Pest Management Plan that are capable of causing significant adverse effects on one or several of our Regional values. These species warrant being watch-listed for ongoing surveillance or future control opportunities.
Taxonomies
FamilyTropaeolaceae
TypePlants
GroupVine
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted OrganismOrganism of Interest (OOI)
