Japanese Climbing Fern

Lygodium japonicum

Found in disturbed areas. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Florida edition What its natural habitat tells you

-55

Severe harm

Not native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 15–90 feet
Spread: 15–30 feet
Light: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Dry to wet

See native alternatives

Lygodium japonicum — foliage photograph — (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original photograph

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Florida.

Plant this instead

Your county

Choose your county to list local plants first.

Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Sun: Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow, orange or red.
Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous
Different: spread

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen
Bloom: June to December

JFMAMJJASOND

Recorded in 63 Florida counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 132 animals.

Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Eurasian Collared-dove
Streptopelia decaocto
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Florida

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

1CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Lygodium

Acrolophus heppneriHeppner's Grass-Tubeworm

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Lygodiaceae
Hardiness: Zones 7a–13b

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “June to December” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 7a–13b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “15–90 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Spread · “15–30 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Goblins Foot

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source