Topsail Island Beach Vitex Eradication Project
What is Beach Vitex?
Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is a deciduous, woody vine from Japan and Korea that was introduced to the southeastern US in the mid-1980s for use as an ornamental landscape plant as well as for sand dune stabilization. Beach vitex is escaping cultivation along the coast of North Carolina and South Carolina and blankets many oceanfront dunes along our coast. Because of its invasive nature, beach vitex crowds out native dune plants such as sea oats, American beachgrass and seaside panicum. In addition to threatening our natural sand dune communities, beach vitex also threatens endangered loggerhead sea turtle nesting habitat as well as habitat for the federally threatened seabeach amaranth and other rare plants and animal species.
Beach vitex has several qualities that are common to many invasive species.
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It is a prolific seed producer. Birds and squirrels eat the fruits and may distribute seeds to other areas where they may germinate and form new colonies of beach vitex. Seedlings and isolated plants believed to have originated from seeds have been observed on beaches throughout the Carolinas.
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In addition, high tides have been known to break off sections of beach vitex stems. These stems float away and then wash up on other beaches where they may take root and form a new colony.
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Beach vitex clippings, discarded as yard waste, have been chipped up and spread as mulch. Seeds and cuttings in the mulch have started new populations where the refuse was disposed.
What is Topsail Island doing to help?
Topsail Island beaches have joined together in the fight to eradicate this invasive vine. Topsail Beach, Surf City and North Topsail Beach have all passed Town ordinances making it unlawful to plant and maintain beach vitex. The Towns are educating citizens as to why eradicating vitex is part of our beach nourishment initiative.
The Towns also applied for state funding to implement the Topsail Island Vitex Eradication Project. On June 19, 2024, the NCDEQ Water Resources Commission awarded Topsail Island a grant in the amount of $690,060.50 to continue our work on mitigation of the existing vitex. NCGS §143‑215.73M
What is the plan?
Phase one of the project is already in the works. A detailed survey to identify properties where Vitex is present was conducted. The project team collaborated with state agencies on educational resources and shared with Town residents. The Towns developed an interactive MAP of properties where vitex is growing.
Next, each town will obtain written permission from the property owner to access their property for treatment purposes.
Phase two will consist of treatment and removal of Vitex. The first treatment season will begin in May of 2025. Treatments will follow monthly until September 2025. The second treatment season will follow the same schedule beginning in May of 2026 and ending in September 2026.
Treatment will continue for at least 2 more seasons making this a four-to-five-year project.
What can you do to help?
- Do not plant beach vitex. Plant native species such as sea oats.
- If removal of beach vitex is not a short-term option, consider the following:
- Remove ripe fruits before they are dispersed by birds or water.
- Trim back branches that may break off and float away.
- Put all beach vitex clippings in a plastic trash bag so they will go to the landfill, rather than be chipped and spread as mulch.
- Sign the permission form to allow for treatment on your property.
