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

Site Management

Follow up treated areas three times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after two to three treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Physical control

Trace all vines back to ground level, clear a small area around the vine’s base and cut all vines at ground level and aerial vines at waist height. Ensure that the hanging vines are clear of the ground so that they cannot take root.

Plant parts requiring disposal: all parts

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal options

Chemical control

Where possible, trace the vines back to ground level, clear a small area around the base and cut vines close to the ground. Immediately treat with herbicide gel containing glyphosate or metsulfuron-methyl.

Foliar spray with 20ml glyphosate plus 2ml penetrant per 1L of water

Foliar spray with 6ml triclopyr plus 1ml non-ionic surfactant per 1L of water.

Foliar spray with 12.5ml clopyralid per 1L of water.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.