Mile a Minute Vine*

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Mile a Minute vine or Devil's tear thumb
Polygonum perfoliata 

Life Cycle: Summer annual herbaceous vine that can climb over vegetation, smothering plants forming dense mats; invasive
Growth habit: Thrives in full sun but can tolerate shade. Shallow fibrous root system. Leaves are light-green, alternate, and triangular to heart-shaped at the base. Stems are armed with recurved barbs which are also present on the underside of the leaf blades. Blue/black berries

Mile-a-Minute vine climbing over vegetation
Photo: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org 

Reproduction: Primarily a self-pollinating plant. A prolific seed producer. Seeds are typically spread by birds
Cultural control: Pull seedlings and young vines early in the summer, do not let the plant go to seed

Additional Information

• Invasive Vine/Groundcover Control
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
• (PDF) Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas