Beware the Pretty Vines Found in the
Landscape
Vining plants are often desirable in the home landscape.
They cleverly disguise carefully placed trellises and their form seems to take on a life of
its own. Some vines have been known to cover trees, poles, cars, and even slow moving
animals I suspect. Quite a few vines are considered weedy by most. Too often, people will
allow an unidentified, cute, little vine to flower. Fast forward a few years, and its
population will be out of control. The initial cuteness impression will be long
gone and efforts will be underway to eradicate it.
Proper identification is critical to good weed control as is
scouting often for emerging weed issues. Need some help identifying those mystery vines?
Here is a brief description of some of the more common weedy vines found in lawns and
gardens. As with all broadleaf weeds,
leaf arrangement, flower type and the presence of underground structures such
as rhizomes or ubers all play a key role in identification.
Honeyvine Milkweed
Identifying
Characteristics: A perennial twining vine with opposite leaves and
relatively large fruit (follicle). This weed is often incorrectly
identified as a morningglory (Ipomoea spp.) or
Field
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
However, the prominent white veins distinguishes this weed from any of the
morningglories, and the heart-shaped leaf distinguishes this weed from field
bindweed.
Honeyvine milkweed (Ampelamus albidus) is a perennial vine
that spreads by seed and long spreading roots. The leaves are heart-shaped on
long petioles and opposite on the stem.Flowers are small, whitish, and borne in
clusters. It forms a smooth, green seed pod that is similar to that of common
milkweed. Pods persist into winter and can then be spotted easily in the
landscape when evergreens are the backdrop. The presence of the pod is a dead
giveaway for identifying this weed.
Hedge Bindweed
Identifying
Characteristics: Flowers have two leafy
bracts at the base, leaves are triangular in outline with 'dog-ears'. This weed
is often mistaken for Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
However, field bindweed leaves are smaller, with a more rounded apex and bases
that are pointed or rounded, but not cut off squarely across the top as in
hedge bindweed.
Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium) is a perennial vine that
spreads by rhizomes. The leaves are alternate on the stem and are distinctly
triangular in shape with a pointy tip. The leaf base is cut squarely. The flowers are white to
pink, and funnel-shaped like that of morningglory, another vine I will discuss in a bit.
Bindweed is often mistaken for morningglory which is an annual weed. Initially, it may not
be perceived as much of a problem, although, the rhizomes can help this vine spread
quickly.
Field Bindweed
Identifying
Characteristics: Trailing or climbing vine with triangular leaves and lobes
that point outward. Additionally, the small bracts that are separate from
the flowers of field bindweed help to distinguish this from other similar
species. Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) is similar in
appearance and is often mistaken for field bindweed, however the leaf bases of
hedge bindweed are cut squarely (truncate) and this weed also has large bracts
beneath the flowers unlike field bindweed. Field bindweed is also
often confused with Wild Buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus),
however wild buckwheat has inward-pointing bases and an ocrea at the base of
each petiole.
Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is similar to hedge
bindweed except the leaves are arrowhead shaped with a rounded tip. Also, the
leaves are smaller and the leaf bases are rounded with outwardly divergent
lobes. I try to keep the two straight by thinking "hedges have
edges." Field bindweed is a rhizomatous perennial as well.
Wild Buckwheat
Identifying
Characteristics: The ocrea at base of each petiole and the triangular
leaves with basal lobes that point inward are both characteristics that help to
distinguish this weed from most other plants. This weed is often confused
with Field
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
However, the inward-pointing bases of wild buckwheat leaves versus the
outward-pointing bases of field bindweed leaves are characteristics that may be
used to distinguish between the two. Additionally, the ocrea present in
wild buckwheat and not in field bindweed is a distinguishing characteristic.
Wild buckwheat (Polygonum convolvulus) is similar also, but
the lobes at the base of the leaf point backwards toward the petiole and it has an ochrea
which is the easiest way to differentiate between these species. An ochrea is a papery
sheath that encircles the stem where the petiole attaches to the stem. It is indicative of
the smartweed family for which it is a member. Also, the flowers are greenish white and
inconspicuous. They are clustered on long white racemes. Wild buckwheat is an
annual so there are no rhizomes like the bindweeds have. Don't let this fool
you; it is still considered a "serious weed" according to Weeds of
the North Central States.
Morning Glories
Identifying
Characteristics: Large tuber-like root and white flowers with lavender
or purple center should distinguish this weed from other morningglories with
white flowers.
Morning glories (Ipomoea spp.) are often confused with
bindweed and wild buckwheat too except the leaf shape is quite different.
Depending on the species, leaves are either heart shaped or 3-lobed (ivy like). The cotyledons are
butterfly-shaped. Most of the morning glories found in Illinois are summer annuals so reproduction
is by seed. Bigroot morning glory or wild sweet potato as it's also called (I. pandurata) is a perennial found across the state. Both bigroot and tall morningglory have
heart shaped leaves like honeyvine milkweed, however, the leaves are alternate on the
stem. Big root morning glory can be distinguished by its reddish purple
centered white flowers and large underground tubers.
Controls for vines include repeated pulling or cutting back,
mowing, mulching, and herbicides. In a turf situation, grass should be properly
maintained and mowed as high as possible. These vines have a difficult time growing in
thick, lush turfgrass. Postemergent herbicides that provide at least some control of these vines
include but are not limited to the following: 2,4-D, carfentrazone, quinclorac, dicamba,
oxyfluorfen, and triclopyr. Glyphosate may also be used for spot applications as it is a
non-selective herbicide. Be sure to carefully read and follow all label directions.
Repeated applications may be necessary. Summer annual weeds are most susceptible to
treatment in the spring or early summer when they are young. For perennials such as the
bindweeds, fall applications may be most effective.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you know. Just today
as I snapped a picture of field bindweed in flower, an innocent bystander said that
she thought the flowers were so pretty. She's right. They are pretty--up close. But when
I see this vine cover a shrub, I can't think of it being anything other than a
weed.--Michelle Wiesbrook
Author:
Michelle Wiesbrook