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Help me ID this tiny vine that's consuming my backyard!

16 years ago

My San Francisco backyard has been taken over by a small wiry vine with itty bitty leaves (less than a cm long). Though the leaves themselves are quite small, the plant grows to massive proportions as it forms a matted blanket over everything. It's encased the fence, it's growing up the neighbor's fire escape, it's taken over half a plum tree. This stuff is tenacious.

I am very curious to know what it's called. Any help in identifying this plant would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Comments (3)

legumefinder
16 years ago
I think its a species of wire vine, Muhlenbeckia complexa perhaps.

Dave.
davidandkasie
16 years ago
i get the same vine growing along the edge of my yard near the ditch. i just cut it back with the mower and spray it with round up. this keeps it in check, but the only way i have ever gotten rid of it was to totally kill off everything in the ditch, but this lead to erosion, so now i spray a low dose to stun and slowly kill back the weeds.
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momochan
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks for the help. i did a google image search on "muhlenbeckia" and was shocked to see that people actually grow this stuff on purpose!

anyway, i appreciate the help. wish me luck, eh?

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