Asparagus asparagoides (bridal creeper, smilax)

Asparagus asparagoides (bridal creeper, smilax) is a native of South Africa that is highly invasive in Australia and is of potential concern in California. Bridal creeper is a member of the Liliaceae family (or Asparagaceae) and was formerly in the genus Myrsiphyllum. It is a perennial climber or scrambler, to about 3 meters high, with long wiry stems and rhizomatous roots. The rhizomes produce numerous fleshy tubers which become entwined together and can form a dense mass about 5 to 10 cm deep in the soil. It is estimated that over 85% of the plant's biomass is underground. What appear to be leaves are actually cladodes (leaf-like modified stems), and the true leaves are small, bract-like scales at the base of the cladodes. The cladodes are glossy light green, 1-7 cm long and 4-30 cm wide, stalkless, broad at the base and narrowing to a pointed tip, with parallel veination, and are arranged alternately on the stem. The sweetly scented flowers are borne singly or in pairs on stalks growing from the cladode axil. There are 6 white to pale green petals and sepals and 6 orange stamens. The fruit is a round berry (6-10 mm diameter) that is green when immature, turning red and sticky when mature. There are 1 to 9 small (2-4 mm diameter) black shiny seeds per fruit. The seed is viable in Australia and is believed to be viable in California.

Asparagus asparagoides has been found in several locations in San Diego County. In particular the WMA is familiar within infestations along Cottonwood Creek in the City of Encinitas, San Elijo Lagoon, and the new Mission Valley Preserve. While these infestations are not large, they do appear to be spreading, and the plant has shown that it can climb in riparian vegetation. While this species may remain localized, and be more of a waif than a pest, it may at some point reach a critical mass when it begins to spread more rapidly and outside of the "local" area. Because the seed is viable and spread by birds and potentially other wildlife (sticky seed), as the seed pool gets bigger, the number and new plant colonizations will probably increase. We believe this species needs to be watched and would appreciate any reports of occurrences. Correspondence from The CRC Weed Management Systems in Australia (Andy Sheppard, Principal Research Scientist) confirms this: "It remained localized for many years until its patches become sufficiently large to attract fruiting birds that acted as the major vector of spread causing it to start cropping up everywhere."

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Flowers and cladodes	Growing on a Rhus integrifolia bush	Growing up a willow tree	Mass of fleshy tubers

Infestation on a willow tree

Stem and cladodes

Example of infestation in Australia