Old World Climbing Fern
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute
Episode Archive
Episode #430 | Original Air Date: January 6, 2023
Related Resources
- Ask IFAS: Natural Area Weeds: Old World Climbing Fern (Lygodium Microphyllum)
- Gardening Solutions: Old World Climbing Ferns
- Tiny Moth Tackles Old World Climbing Fern
Transcript
Parts of Florida are under attack by invasive plants like the Old World climbing fern, which has taken control of huge areas in Florida.
Old World climbing fern has wiry fronds that twine their way to the tops of trees, smothering entire sections of forest. It can also make wildfires much worse by acting as a conduit for the flames.
This plant can be treated with herbicides, but eradication is especially difficult in isolated areas.
In 2005, a special moth was released in southeast Florida as the first biocontrol agent, though it may be several decades before the insect's effects are known.
Be part of the solution: learn to identify and control this rapidly growing invasive.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute is a production of the University of Florida’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, IFAS Extension, and WUFT-FM in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
