What does it look like?
Climbing spindle berry is a perennial, deciduous, twining climber that grows 12-15 metres high. Branches are greyish brown. Young branches are green and often have sharp spines. The serrated leaves are 5-10 cm long, tapered, alternately spaced, and turn yellow in autumn. It produces clusters of small (4-10 mm across), green flowers. Yellow-orange capsules split open to reveal scarlet fruit in early summer.
This aggressive woody vine climbs over rocks and trees and sometimes covers the ground. In New Zealand it tolerates a range of climates and soils but is less common on drought-prone soils. It’s mainly found in scrub, shrubland and young forest and can establish on forest margins. Climbing spindleberry seedlings establish under moderate shade in New Zealand, primarily in the early stages of vegetation succession, then grow up more or less simultaneously with the supporting trees.
Why is it a problem?
An individual plant may spread to cover as much as 170m2. The weight of the plant can cause canopy collapse. Layered stems forms dense, impenetrable thickets which prevent native plants regenerating. Seedlings from the fruit of this plant are uncommon, it usually grows and spreads by underground roots that form new stems.
Control methods
Physical control
Dig out seedlings and small plants: Dispose of as much as possible either at refuse transfer station or by burning.
Herbicide control
- Stump and stem swab (during spring to summer): Cut and dispose of most stems. Slice and treat both ends of remaining stems with glyphosate (250ml/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L). Or,
- Spray (during spring to summer): Overall spray with glyphosate (150ml/10L + penetrant) or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L + penetrant) or triclopyr 600 EC (20ml/10L + penetrant).
- For large stands, it’s best to cut and dispose of stems in autumn, and spray regrowth in spring.
- Stumps and suckers resprout and dropped stems take root. Maintain at least 6 monthly follow up until eliminated.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
- For further advice, please contact us on 06 835 9200.
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
FamilyCelastraceae
TypePlants
GroupClimber
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted OrganismOrganism of Interest (OOI)
