Fragrant virgin's bower

Fragrant virgin’s bower is a deciduous, climbing vine that can grow up to 6 metres tall.

Description

• Long woody, round and weakly ribbed stems.

• Leaves are in opposite pairs on the stem, each comprising two rows of thick, sparsely hairy, unlobed small leaflets.

• White flowers grow in large bunches from January-March.

• Dense, fluffy clusters of hairy seeds with distinctive white plumes in May.

• Seeds are spread by wind or water.

• Habitats include shrublands, disturbed and open forest margins, cliffs, and inshore islands.

What you need to know

Fragrant virgin’s bower smothers and kills all plants and prevents native species from establishing. It readily moves into shrubland and forest margins as stems take root where they touch the ground.

Management approach

Fragrant virgin’s bower is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of fragrant virgin’s bower yourself. Report any sightings to us.