Controlling Invasive Vines in the Mountains
Thorough guidelines for controlling each of the following species can be found in Cherri Smith's manual distributed by N.C. Department of Transportation.
Please follow this link to get this FREE manual:
http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/pe/neu/NEUProcedures/NCDOT_Invasive_Exotic_Plants.pdf
Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Porcelain Berry)
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
For over 100 years, porcelain berry has been used as an ornamental plant in the United States. Its colorful berries are consumed by wildlife, especially birds, thus it has dispersed throughout the eastern states. It also is dispersed through water and is often found in riparian zones. Like kudzu and other invasive vines, it climbs over native vegetation, shading it from the sun, and, consequentially kills the native plants.
Porcelain berry is a woody vine distinguished by its berries which are produced in a variety of shades – including purple, blue, green, yellow, and white. The leaves are serrated and lobed - with between 3 to 5 lobes per leaf. They are arranged alternately along the stem. Pale green flower clusters bloom in midsummer.
Cayratia japonica (Bushkiller)
Photo credit: Robert J. Richardson, North Carolina State University, Bugwood.org
Bushkiller climbs over other plants and shades them to death. It is found in other southern states but in North Carolina its distribution has been limited to Winston-Salem, Charlotte, and Lexington. It can reproduce through fragments and through its seeds.
Bushkiller is a vine with long tendrils. Tendrils are formed opposite of leaves. The leaves are compound with 5 leaflets (1 – 3” long) which have serrated margins and are oblong. During the late summer, the plant produces a convex cluster (umbels) of small pinkish flowers. Berries have 2 or 4 seeds each.
Bushkiller is a vine with long tendrils. Tendrils are formed opposite of leaves. The leaves are compound with 5 leaflets (1 – 3” long) which have serrated margins and are oblong. During the late summer, the plant produces a convex cluster (umbels) of small pinkish flowers. Berries have 2 or 4 seeds each.
Celastrus orbiculatus (Oriental Bittersweet)
Photo credits (left to right): James R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Bugwood.org; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org; Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org
Oriental bittersweet was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 19th century; it is still a popular ornamental but it kills other plants by growing over them – much like kudzu . It has invaded natural habitats in the eastern United States and can be found in the mountains and in the Piedmont of North Carolina. It occurs primarily in open habitats, like fields, disturbed forests, forest edges, and roadsides. Birds disperse its seeds long distances and it spreads through rhizomes.
Oriental bittersweet is a woody vine that can grow up 60’. Its glossy leaves (2 – 5” long) are rounded and finely serrated; they grow alternately along the stem and they turn yellow in the fall. Small pale green flowers bloom in spring and early summer. Later in the summer, yellow fruits ripen in clusters all along the stem, where the leaves meet the stem. During the winter the fruits split to reveal red orange berries.
Oriental bittersweet is a woody vine that can grow up 60’. Its glossy leaves (2 – 5” long) are rounded and finely serrated; they grow alternately along the stem and they turn yellow in the fall. Small pale green flowers bloom in spring and early summer. Later in the summer, yellow fruits ripen in clusters all along the stem, where the leaves meet the stem. During the winter the fruits split to reveal red orange berries.
Euonymus fortunei var. radicans (Winter Creeper)
Photo credit: Keith Langdon, National Park Service, Bugwood.org
Since introduction, winter creeper has invaded natural habitats of the eastern United States. Berries are consumed by birds. Like kudzu and other invasive vines, it climbs over native vegetation, shading it from the sun, and, consequentially kills the native plants. It also covers the ground in dense, shrubby mats which shade out native herbaceous vegetation.
Winter creeper is a woody vine but can also grow as a small shrub (3’ high). Its oval, serrated leaves (<1” long) have silvery veins. Its berries are pinkish and open up to reveal orange seeds. The leaves are serrated and lobed - with between 3 to 5 lobes per leaf. They are arranged alternately along the stem. Small greenish-yellow flowers (5 petals) bloom in midsummer on vines (but not on shrubs).
Hedera helix (English Ivy)
Photo credit: Forest & Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org
English ivy is a popular groundcover but it has spread beyond the garden and has overtaken forests, displacing native plant species across the United States. It forms both mats which cross the forest floor and woody vines which climb trees (up to 100'). These mats and vines block out sunlight, preventing native plant germination and killing trees. The plant spreads through runners and wildlife disperses its seeds.
In the shade, English ivy leaves are lobed (2 to 3 leaves per leaf), dark green with white veins, and waxy. In the sun, or on mature vines, the leaves can also be oval. Leaves are arranged alternately along the stem. Both groundcover and vines will produce clusters of small, dark purple fruits. During the summer, mature vines exposed to sun will also produce yellow flowers.
Lonicera japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle)
Chuck Bargeron, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
Japanese honeysuckle was bought over as an ornamental but has since spread into natural habitats across the United States. It spreads by rhizomes, runners, and bird-dispersed seeds. The plant forms evergreen mats which shade out native vegetation and climb up small trees and shrubs.
The Japanese honeysuckle can be identified by its fragrant flowers which blossom all summer. These flowers are yellow, white, trumpet-shaped, and occur in pairs. In the fall, they have small black fruits; the native species of Lonicera have red and orange fruits. The leaves of the Japanese honeysuckle are oblong (1 - 2" long), smooth (older leaves) or lobed (younger leaves) along the edges, and arranged oppositely along the stem. The Japanese honeysuckle also has 2 leaves at the tips of the stem; the native Lonicera species have only one leaf at the tip of the stem. Older stems are hollow and have brown, peeling bark.
Persicaria perfoliatum (Mile-A-Minute Vine)
Photo credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org
Mile-a-minute vine has invaded the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States down to Virginia but has not yet been reported in North Carolina. It commonly invades open fields, woodland edges, roadsides, wetlands, and stream banks. It produces many seeds which are dispersed by birds and small animals. Fruits also disperse through the water. It is much easier to control an invasive species if we can manage infestations when they are still small. So, please watch out for mile-a-minute vine and report any infestations to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Weed Specialist at 1-800-206-9333.
Mile-a-minute vine forms dense mats of tangled stems. The leaves are triangular shaped and grow alternately along the stem. The leaves are barbed along the underside. The stems are also barbed. Stems redden as they age and have characteristic leafy circular structures (called ‘ocreae’) from which flowers emerge. The flowers are small, white, and inconspicuous. The plant fruits from July through the fall. Fruits are metallic blue, segmented, and grow in clusters. Each fruit segment contains a small black seed.
Mile-a-minute vine forms dense mats of tangled stems. The leaves are triangular shaped and grow alternately along the stem. The leaves are barbed along the underside. The stems are also barbed. Stems redden as they age and have characteristic leafy circular structures (called ‘ocreae’) from which flowers emerge. The flowers are small, white, and inconspicuous. The plant fruits from July through the fall. Fruits are metallic blue, segmented, and grow in clusters. Each fruit segment contains a small black seed.
Pueraria montana (Kudzu)
Photo credit (for both): James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
The infamous kudzu was introduced as an ornamental plant in the 19th century and its use expanded during the 1930s when farmers were encouraged to use it to manage erosion. Within 20 years it has invaded southeastern ecosystems. It kills other plants by growing over them – at an extremely rapid rate (1’ in a day!). It is found in open habitats throughout North Carolina; it does best in fields, disturbed forests, forest edges, and roadsides. It spreads through runners and rhizomes.
Kudzu is a woody vine that can grow up 100’. Its compound leaves are made up of 3 leaflets (4” wide); sometimes these are round coming to a point; some are lobed (2-3 lobes per leaf); they grow alternately along the stem. Stems are hairy when young but become woody as they mature (diameter can be up to 4”). Flowers (0.5 – 0.75”) are purple and fragrant and grow in hanging spikes; they bloom in late summer on sun-exposed plants. During the fall, the vine produces flat, brown seedpods.
Wisteria floribunda (Japanese Wisteria) and
Wisteria sinensis (Chinese Wisteria)
Photo credits (left to right): Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org; James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
These plants were introduced as ornamentals but have taken over natural habitats all over the eastern United States. It forms heavy vines which girdle, strangle, and kill trees and shrubs. It disperses mainly though runners.
This deciduous woody vine is identified by its fragrant clusters of drooping lavender flowers. The flowers bloom in spring. There is also a native variety which produces similar flowers, the native variety, however, will not climb or spread as aggressively. Infestations of wisteria are very likely the non-native varieties. The leaves of the exotic wisteria species are compound, with 7 - 13 leaflets per leaf (up to 12" long). The leaflets (3" long) are wavy and lance-shaped. The exotic wisteria also has velvety seed pods (4 - 6" long) and the native wisteria has smooth pods.
