Winter creeper (Euonymus fortunei)

Present distribution

Scientific name:	Euonymus fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz.
Common name(s):	Winter creeper, Climbing Euonymus

This weed is not known to be naturalised in Victoria

Habitat:

Native to China, Japan & Korea (GRIN 2005). Occurs in woods & thickets in low mountains all over Japan (PFAF 2004), documented at 3000m in China (GBIF 2008). Invades undisturbed forest, riparian areas (Rameley 2005), damp to dry forest (Czarapata 2005), dry-, upland- & floodplain mesic forest, dry flatwoods (Dolan et al 2006), woodland (Lee 2006), herbland (Landcare NZ 2005) Tolerates a variety of environmental conditions, full sun to deep shade, poor soils & acidic to basic soils (Swearingen et al 2002).

Potential distribution

Potential distribution produced from CLIMATE modelling refined by applying suitable landuse and vegetation type overlays with CMA boundaries

Map Overlays Used

Land Use:
Forestry

Broad vegetation types
Coastal; heathland; grassy/heathy dry forest; lowland forest; foothills forest; forby forest; damp forest; riparian; wet forest; rainforest; high altitude shrubland/woodland; alpine treeless; granitic hillslopes; western plains woodland; basalt grassland; alluvial plains grassland; alluvial plains woodland; ironbark/box; riverine woodland/forest.

Colours indicate possibility of Euonymus fortunei infesting these areas.

In the non-coloured areas the plant is unlikely to establish as the climate, soil or landuse is not presently suitable.

map showing the potential distribution of winter creeper

Red= Very high	Orange = Medium
Yellow = High	Green = Likely

Impact

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Social
1. Restrict human access?	A woody species that forms a dense ground cover to 1m and can climb trees eventually overtopping them (Miller 2003) covering the leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). Occurs in riparian areas (Remaley 2005). Potential to restrict individual access to certain areas and smothered trees that die and fall could additionally impact on access.	ML	MH
2. Reduce tourism?	‘…covers over 50% of our 14 acres of woodland in the herbaceous layer and climbs up many of the trees in the woodland (Lee 2006)’. A woody species that forms a dense ground cover to 1m and can climb trees eventually overtopping them (Miller 2003). Would have negative affect on aesthetics, not described to impact recreation.	ML	MH
3. Injurious to people?	No records on toxicity seen for his plant but a number of plants in the genus are suspected of being poisonous (PFAF 2004). ‘The fruits of winter creeper are said to be toxic to humans (Floridata 2004)’. Toxic at certain times of the year, though level of toxicity unclear.	M	M
4. Damage to cultural sites?	‘If placed on a support, a wall, tree or fence the plant will start to climb and will be self-attaching to a large degree (PFAF 2004)’. ‘…climbs by aerial roots like ivy and can climb on a brick or stone wall as high as 6m (Page & Olds 1998)’. A moderate visual affect, not documented to impact on structure.	ML	M
Abiotic
5. Impact flow?	Occurs in riparian areas (Remaley 2005) but not within waterways as does not occur in wet areas (Miller 2003). Would not impact on water flow.	L	MH
6. Impact water quality?	Occurs in riparian areas (Remaley 2005) but not within waterways as does not occur in wet areas (Miller 2003). Would not impact on water quality.	L	MH
7. Increase soil erosion?	‘The dense readily rooting evergreen vine is an excellent choice for the type of poor soil found beside hillside steps and walkways where erosion is a problem (Greer & Rushing 2005)’. ‘They can be used to control erosion on slopes (Floridata 2004)’. Appears to decrease the probability of soil erosion. However, its ability to overtop trees (Miller 2003) covering the leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005) and its occurrence in riparian areas (Remaley 2005) have implications for longer term erosion problems if trees are killed.	M	L
8. Reduce biomass?	A woody species that forms a dense ground cover to 1m and can climb trees eventually overtopping them (Miller 2003), can climb to over 20 metres in height (USDA FS 2005). Biomass likely to increase.	L	MH
9. Change fire regime?	Described to be fire retardant (Heynes 2008). Though not documented, it has potential to reduce flammability of the understorey as well as trees that it climbs. This could cause a moderate reduction in fire intensity and fire frequency as it is described covering extensive areas, e.g. ‘…covers over 50% of our 14 acres of woodland in the herbaceous layer and climbs up many of the trees in the woodland (Litzinger 2008)’.	MH	ML
Community Habitat
10. Impact on composition (a) high value EVC	Out-competes native vegetation (USDA FS 2005) smothering any low growing plants and inhibiting seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Forms dense ground cover and will climb and can eventually overtop trees (Miller 2003), covering leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). Displaces native plants (Swearingen et al 2002). Monoculture; displaces all species within strata/layer. EVC = Plains Grassy forest (E); CMA = East Gippsland; Bioregion = East Gippsland lowlands; H CLIMATE potential.	MH	MH
(b) medium value EVC	Out-competes native vegetation (USDA FS 2005) smothering any low growing plants and inhibiting seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Forms dense ground cover and will climb and can eventually overtop trees (Miller 2003), covering leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). Displaces native plants (Swearingen et al 2002). Monoculture; displaces all species within strata/layer. EVC = Lowland Forest (D); CMA = Corangamite; Bioregion = Otway Plain; H CLIMATE potential.	MH	MH
(c) low value EVC	Out-competes native vegetation (USDA FS 2005) smothering any low growing plants and inhibiting seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Forms dense ground cover and will climb and can eventually overtop trees (Miller 2003), covering leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). Displaces native plants (Swearingen et al 2002). Monoculture; displaces all species within strata/layer. EVC = Damp forest (LC); CMA = East Gippsland; Bioregion = East Gippsland lowlands; H CLIMATE potential.	MH	MH
11. Impact on structure?	Out-competes native vegetation (USDA FS 2005) smothering any low growing plants and inhibiting seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Forms dense ground cover and will climb and can eventually overtop trees (Miller 2003), covering leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). ‘…covers over 50% of our 14 acres of woodland in the herbaceous layer and climbs up many of the trees…Our most aggressive and widespread invasive species (Litzinger 2008)’. Major effects on all layers.	H	MH
12. Effect on threatened flora?	Forms dense ground cover (Miller 2003) displacing native species (Swearingen et al 2002). Smothers any low growing plants and inhibits seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Though not documented to have an additional affect, it is likely to impact on threatened flora.	MH	L
Fauna
13. Effect on threatened fauna?	Forms dense ground cover (Miller 2003) displacing native species (Swearingen et al 2002). Smothers any low growing plants and inhibits seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Though not documented to have an additional affect, it is likely to impact on threatened fauna through loss of native habitat and food source	MH	L
14. Effect on non-threatened fauna?	Smothers any low growing plants and inhibits seedling growth and survival (Lee 2006). Forms dense ground cover (Miller 2003) displacing native species (Swearingen et al 2002). Can eventually overtop trees (Miller 2003), covering leaves and preventing photosynthesis (Remaley 2005). ‘…covers over 50% of our 14 acres of woodland in the herbaceous layer (Litzinger 2008)’. Though affects on fauna not documented, it has the ability to dramatically change habitat, leading to possible local extinction of some non-threatened fauna that rely on native understorey vegetation for survival.	H	M
15. Benefits fauna?	Its capacity to form dense ground cover and vegetative growth on trees (Miller 2003) would likely provide some harbour for native fauna species. The seeds of E. fortunei are dispersed by birds and other animals (Miller 2003). Potential to provide some food and/or shelter to desirable species.	MH	MH
16. Injurious to fauna?	‘The fruits of winter creeper [E. fortunei] are said to be toxic to humans (Floridata 2004)’, and the fruit, bark, leaves and flowers of Euonymus japonicus are described as very poisonous (Shepherd 2004). The fruit of E. fortunei is consumed by birds and other animals (Miller 2003), but it is not known if the foliage of E. fortunei is toxic to animals.	M	L
Pest Animal
17. Food source to pests?	The fruit of E. fortunei is dispersed by birds and other animals (Miller 2003). Potential to be consumed by minor pest bird species.	ML	M
18. Provides harbor?	Its capacity to form both a dense ground cover and vegetative growth over trees (Miller 2003) could provide additional harbour for pest rodent and bird species. Doesn’t provide harbour for major pest species but may provide harbour for minor pest species.	ML	M
Agriculture
19. Impact yield?	Not described as a weed of agriculture	L	M
20. Impact quality?	Not described as a weed of agriculture	L	M
21. Affect land value?	Not described as a weed of agriculture	L	M
22. Change land use?	Not described as a weed of agriculture	L	M
23. Increase harvest costs?	Not described as a weed of agriculture	L	M
24. Disease host/vector?	Anthracnose [caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides] on E. fortunei has become a significant problem for nursery producers (Ningen et al 2005). Anthracnose is described as a serious disease of several crops including lupins, mangoes and strawberries (Thomas 2003, Pitkethley & Conde 2007, NSWDPI 2004). Although not described as an agricultural weed, weed populations could grow adjacent to production areas or under tree crops.	H	M

Invasive

QUESTION	COMMENTS	RATING	CONFIDENCE
Establishment
1. Germination requirements?	‘Stored seed requires 8-12 weeks warm followed by 8-16 weeks cold stratification and can then be sown into a cold frame (PFAF 2004)’. Appears to require natural seasonal disturbances for germination.	MH	M
2. Establishment requirements?	It tolerates a variety of environmental conditions including full sun to deep shade, poor soils, and acidic to basic soils (Swearingen et al 2002). Can germinate in existing vegetation in a wide range of conditions (Dolan et al 2006). Strong shade tolerance (Wang & Ma 2004). Appears able to establish without additional factors.	H	MH
3. How much disturbance is required?	Able to invade relatively undisturbed habitats (Czarapata 2005). Carried by water, to undisturbed forest (Remaley 2005).	H	MH
Growth/Competitive
4. Life form?	Climbing shrub (Wang & Ma 2004).	ML	H
5. Allelopathic properties?	Not found described in the literature.	M	L
6. Tolerates herb pressure?	‘An estimated 15,803 euonymus plant deaths can be attributed to euonymus scale annually in Massachusetts (Driesche et al 1998)’. However, ‘three insecticidal alkaloids were isolated from root bark (Jinbo et al 2002)’ and ‘they are very tolerant of clipping (PFAF 2004)’. Response to ‘traditional herbivory’, e.g. removal of foliage and ability to regrow, likely to be good, but it is severely affected by scale.	M	L
7. Normal growth rate?	Vegetative reproduction rate results in rapid increase in population size (Dolan et al 2006)’. Rapid growth (USDA FS 2005).	H	M
8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc?	Frost: Frost resistant (Bodkin 1990)’. ‘Plants are hardy to about -18oC (PFAF 2004)’. Salinity: ‘Winter creeper is very tolerant of coastal conditions (Floridata 2004)’. Drought: ‘Drought resistant (Bodkin 1990)’. Completely heat and drought tolerant (Greer & Rushing 2005). Water logging: ‘It does not do well in heavy wet soils (USDA FS 2005)’. Avoids wet areas (Miller 2003)’. ‘It is unkillable with cold, heat, drought or rain (Greer & Rushing 2005)’. Resistant to frost and drought, tolerant of salinity, susceptible to waterlogging.	MH	M
Reproduction
9. Reproductive system	Colonizes by trailing and climbing vines that root at nodes, and spreads by bird-, other animal-, and water-dispersed seeds (Miller 2003)’. Vegetative and sexual reproduction.	H	MH
10. Number of propagules produced?	‘Fruits are produced only along a short portion of the terminal vine growing up a tree …11-1000 seeds per plant (Dolan et al 2006)’. In range of ‘50-1000’ propagules produced.	ML	MH
11. Propagule longevity?	Not found described in the literature	M	L
12. Reproductive period?	Grows for decades with almost no maintenance (Greer & Rushing 2005). ‘Life span is probably at least 50 years (Dolan et al 2006)’. Mature plant likely to produce viable propagules for 10 years or more.	H	M
13. Time to reproductive maturity?	Colonizes by trailing and climbing vines that root at nodes (Miller 2003) and new plants emerge from rootlets produced along the stem (Remaley 2005). Grows in riparian areas and is dispersed by water (Remaley 2005). Its ability to produce ‘rootlets’ at nodes and grow rapidly (Dolan et al 2006, USDA FS 2005), indicates vegetative propagules could become separate individuals very quickly.	H	MH
Dispersal
14. Number of mechanisms?	Seeds spread by birds, other animals and water (Miller 2003)’. Bird dispersed.	H	MH
15. How far do they disperse?	Dispersal by birds (Miller 2003) could spread seeds greater than 1km.	H	MH

References

Bodkin F. (1986) Encyclopaedia Botanica: The Essential Reference Guide to Native and Exotic Plants in Australia. Angus & Robertson.

Czarapata, E. (2005) Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest. The University of Wisconsin Press. Canada. pp. 98.

Dolan, R., Gorden, G. & Jacquart, E. (2006) Invasive Species/ Species Assessments: Official Assessment of Euonymus fortunei in Indiana’s Natural Areas, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.in.gov/dnr/invasivespecies/

Driesche, R.V., Kingsley, P., Rose, M. & Bryan M. (1998) ‘Effect of Euonymus scale on Euonymus spp. survival in southern New England, with estimates of economic costs of pest damage’, Environmental Entomology, 27 (2), 217-220.

Floridata (2004) Euonymus fortunei, Floridata, Tallahassee, Florida USA, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.floridata.com/ref/E/euon_for.cfm

Heynes (2008) Fact sheets- Fire Retardants, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.heyne.com.au/gardencentre/factsheets/factsheet.php/Fire+Retardants.htm

Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) (2005), Euonymus fortunei (vine, climber), Global Invasive Species Database, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?fr=1&si=575&sts=

Jinbo, Z., Mingan, W., Wenjun, W., Zhiqing, W. & Zhaonong, H. (2002), ‘Insecticidal sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids from Euonymus species’, Phytochemistry, 61, 699-704.

Landcare Research New Zealand (Landcare NZ) (2005) Ecological Traits of New Zealand Flora, Manaaki Whenu-Landcare Research Database (verified 18 March 2008), http://ecotraits.landcareresearch.co.nz/SearchResultsForm.aspx

Lee, J. (2006) ‘Methods for Removal of Euonymus fortunei’, Litzinger Road Ecology Centre (Invasive species studies), (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.litzsinger.org/invasivestudies.html

Litzinger Road Ecology Centre (LREC) (2008) (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.litzsinger.org/invasives.html

Miller, James H. (2003) Nonnative invasive plants of southern forests: a field guide for identification and control,.Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–62. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station [electronic version] (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.invasive.org/eastern/srs/index.html

Ningen S.S., Cole, J.C. & Smith M.W. (2005) ‘Increased shade intensity and afternoon irrigation decrease Anthracnose severity on three Euonymus fortunei cultivars’, HortScience, 40 (1), 111-113.

Page S and Olds M. (Eds.) (1998) Botanica 2nd Ed. Random House, Milsons Point, NSW, Australia

Pitkethley, R. & Conde, B. (2007) ‘Mango Anthracnose’, Agnote, No. 123, Northern Territory Government, www.nt.gov.au/dpifm/Content/File/p/Plant_Pest/604.pdf

Plants for a Future (2004) Euonymus fortunei, Plants for a Future Database, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Euonymus+fortunei

Remaley T (2005), Fact Sheet: Climbing Euonymus, Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas, Plant Conservation Alliance, Alien plant working group (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/eufo1.htm

Rushing, F & Greer J (2005) Alabama & Mississippi Gardeners Guide, Cool Springs Press, USA.

Swearingen, J., Reshetiloff, K., Slattery, B. & Zwicker, S. (2002) Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas, National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service [electronic version (verified 18 March 2008)], http://www.invasive.org/eastern/midatlantic/eufo.html

Thomas, G. (2003) ‘Lupin anthracnose- identification and management’, Farmnote, No. 15/2003 (reviewed 2007), Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/fcp/lp/lup/pw/fn015_2003.pdf

Ullio, L. & Macarthur, E. (2004) ‘Strawberry disease control guide’, Agfacts, H3.3.1 (third edition), NSW Agriculture, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/119558/strawberry-disease-control.pdf

USDA Forest Service (USDA FS) (2005) ‘Winter Creeper, climbing Euonymus, Euonymus fortunei’, Weed of the Week, WOW 08-30-2005 (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive%5Fplants/weeds/index.shtm

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network – (GRIN) (2005) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville Maryland, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl

Wang Y & Ma WC (2004) ‘Comparative studies on light utilization characteristics and shade tolerance of 7 climbing shrub species’, Forest Research, 17 (3), 305-309.

Global present distribution data references

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2007) Global biodiversity information facility: Prototype data portal, (verified 18 March 2008), http://www.gbif.org/

Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) (2007) w³TROPICOS, Missouri Botanical Gardens Database, (verified 18 March 2008), http://mobot.mobot.org/W3T/Search/vast.html

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