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Invasive Species: Vines

  • Black swallowwort

    Black Swallow-wort

    Cynanchum louiseae (Vincetoxicum nigrum)

    Black swallow-wort, also known as dog-strangling vine, is a perennial vine with shiny, oval to heart-shaped leaves with pointed tips.  Flowers are small, dark purple, and shaped like stars. Seed pods and seeds are similar to those of milkweed plants.

     

    More information: Black swallow-wort
  • chinese yam

    Cinnamon Vine (formerly Chinese Yam)

    (Dioscorea polystachya)

    Watch List

    Cinnamon vine has slender vines that spiral counterclockwise and pointed, heart-shaped leaves that are often indented on the sides. The bulbils or air tubers are present from June to September and resemble very small potatoes. It has small, white or greenish-yellow flowers that smell like cinnamon.

    More information: Cinnamon vine
  • kudzu

    Kudzu

    (Pueraria montana var. lobate)

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    Kudzu is a vine that extends to 100 feet, with up to 30 vines per plant. It has alternate, compound leaves with three broad leaflets and in late summer produces purple individual flowers that grow in upright clusters.

    More information: Kudzu
  • mile a minute weed

    Mile-A-Minute Weed

    (Persicaria perfoliata)

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    Mile-a-minute weed has light green leaves shaped like an equilateral triangle and small white flowers. They produce a deep blue colored fruit arranged in clusters. Typical infestation areas include stream banks, open space, roadsides, forest edges, and fence lines.

    More information: Mile-a-minute weed
  • Oriental bittersweet

    Round Leaf Bittersweet (formerly Oriental Bittersweet)

    (Celastrus orbiculata)
     
    Round leaf bittersweet is a woody, perennial vine that can climb up to 60 feet. It is recognizable by its bright red fruits with yellow outer membranes that grow along the stem and open in fall.


     

    More information: Round leaf bittersweet
  • Pale swallowwort

    Pale Swallow-wort

    Cynanchum rossicum (Vincetoxicum rossicum)

    Pale swallow-wort is a perennial vine with shiny, green to yellow leaves and small, star-shaped flowers that are pale pink to reddish-brown.  Seed pods and seeds resemble those of milkweed plants.

    More information: Pale swallow-wort