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This plant stinks! – Skunk Vine in your landscape

By Wayne Hobbs Environmental Horticulture Agent
Posted 2/22/17

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In Florida, we are constantly dealing with all sorts of weeds and invasive species entering our yards. Whether it is Air Potato, Coral Ardisia, Chinese Tallow Tree, or …

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This plant stinks! – Skunk Vine in your landscape


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – In Florida, we are constantly dealing with all sorts of weeds and invasive species entering our yards. Whether it is Air Potato, Coral Ardisia, Chinese Tallow Tree, or Torpedograss, there is always a challenge to remove, eliminate and eradicate the plants that threaten to take over our landscape and our natural areas. However, this is often much easier said than done.

One of these common invaders in the landscapes and wildlands of Clay County is Skunk Vine, Paederia foetida. This twining, vining perennial can often be found snaking its way through shrubs in the landscape. First introduced to Florida before 1897, the Asian plant was reported as a troublesome weed in the state as early as 1916 and has been found in our fencerows and thickets ever since. It is most widespread and serious in west-central Florida but can be also be found in North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina and Hawaii.

The skunk vine derives its name from the odor it puts off, especially when the leaves are crushed. It can be identified by its spear or lance shaped leaves that are opposite along the stem with smooth edges. At the base of each leaf, you will also see a small appendage, known as a stipule. In late summer and fall, these vines do flower, with small grayish pink or lavender blooms which then develop small black fruit that can persist through the winter.

The danger of this plant to our natural areas is its adaptability, being able to survive in the landscape and many of the natural habitats in the state. Once established, this vine forms dense canopies growing over other vegetation. This stops light from reaching whatever is underneath and soon causes death for plants underneath.

Skunk vine can reproduce by both seed and asexually by its root stock. This means that if you remove a plant from your landscape and do not get all of its roots, it can grow back. Even worse is if that root stock or seed is transported, the vine can sprout somewhere else. In the landscape, pulling up the plants can lead to some control but precautions to prevent its spread must be taken.

It is worth noting that skunk vine is both a Category I invasive species as defined by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1993. This means it is illegal to possess, move, or release it. It is recommended that if you remove this plant from your landscape, place it in a plastic bag, tie it off, and place it in the garbage. Never compost or leave this plant out for curbside debris pickup.

Due to the woody rootstock that is able to regrow the plant, mechanical control by hand pulling is never fully effective. Chemical controls such as those containing Glyphosate, Aminopyralid, Imazapic, Triclopyr amine and Triclopyr ester can be utilized for control but repeated applications may be necessary. If using herbicide, make sure to follow all directions on the label. Remember that many of these chemicals will also harm your landscape plants with direct contact so if the plant is growing within your shrubs, hand removal may be the only method available to you.

If you have any questions about landscape and garden topics, or need plant or pest materials identified, contact the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Office online at http://www.clay.ifas.ufl.edu, follow us on Facebook, or call by phone at (904) 284-6355.