A highly invasive vine capable of smothering trees and other vegetation was found in Jackson County.
Mile-a-minute weed was confirmed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources after a resident reported it to the Michigan Invasive Species Program through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network’s online reporting system.
Recommended Videos
The invasive vine was first detected in Michigan in 2020 at Albion College’s Whitehouse Nature Center in Calhoun County.
The new detection in Jackson County is about 4 miles from the Whitehouse Nature Center and less than 2 miles from the nearest known mile-a-minute weed site in Calhoun County.
What to know about mile-a-minute weed
This annual trailing vine lives in open, disturbed areas and prefers wet soil. It’s fast-growing and has leaves shaped like equilateral triangles. The stems are narrow, delicate, green, or red. There are recurved barbs on the stems and the undersides of the leaf blades. There are spikes of pea-sized blue fruit that appear in July.
It is often found along stream banks, in open spaces, on roadsides, at forest edges, and along fence lines. It thrives in full sun and uses its recurved barbs to attach itself and climb over other plants.
This vine can grow up to 25 feet in six to eight weeks, and it overtakes native vegetation. Christmas tree farms, orchards, reforestation, and restoration areas are at risk because this vine will smother tree and plant seedlings.
Mile-a-minute weed, according to the DNR, can climb tall trees to make traditional herbicide treatment difficult. Its berries reseed infested areas and are spread by birds, other wildlife and human movement to new locations.
The vine can be removed by hand, but seeds can persist in the soil for up to six years, so infested sites need to be monitored regularly for regrowth. New shoots can be mowed or tilled in the spring or early summer before fruiting, as even immature, green fruits can carry viable seeds and create new plants.
Young and mature plants can be removed manually before the fruits ripen. Make sure to double-bag all plant materials and let them decompose in sunlight for several days before moving them to a landfill or incinerator.
Read more --> Here are the invasive grasses and vines Michigan residents should know about
What to do if you see mile-a-minute weed
Anyone who finds what could be mile-a-minute weed can identify it on Michigan’s invasive species website. If the plant appears to be the invasive vine, take photos, note the location and report the find using the following:
- The Midwest Invasive Species Information Network online reporting tool.
- Download the MISIN smartphone app and report from your phone.
More information about mile-a-minute weed and other invasive species in Michigan can be found here.