FOR180 - Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Wintercreeper
FOR180 - Woodland Invasive Plant Management Series: Wintercreeper
Wintercreeper was introduced from China in the early 1900s as an ornamental plant, valued for its evergreen leaves and vigorous growth. Unfortunately, it easily escapes the confines of the garden and outcompetes native vegetation for space, light, nutrients, and moisture in woodland settings. Wintercreeper is highly adaptable to its environment and the same plant can grow in several different forms. As a vine it can climb vertically into trees and can overtop small ones, causing decreased vigor or death. It can also grow in a shrub-like form, especially when growing over things such as an old fence or stump. Wintercreeper can also grow along the ground, forming a dense carpet that inhibits growth of other plants. Once established, wintercreeper can be hard to eradicate and management of small patches is much easier than waiting until the infestation has spread.
