Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
2 ratings

Monday - December 02, 2013

From: The Woodlands, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Identity of invasive vine in The Woodlands, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

What is the invasive vine covering trees in The Woodlands, Texas?

ANSWER:

There are several possibilities.  You can search the Texas Invasives database and find the invasive vines that have been reported as invasive in Texas or potentially invasive in Texas.  Choose "Vine" from the All Habits slot in the "SEARCH BY DURATION OR HABIT' box.

Here are the ones that I found that are high-climbing and likely to cover trees.  The vines below have been identified in Montgomery County or in nearby Harris County. 

Cuscuta japonica (Japanese dodder)  The Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS) shows it occurring in adjacent Harris County.   Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Discorea bulbifera (Air potato)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in Montgomery County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Hedera helix (English ivy)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in Montgomery County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in Montgomery County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Macfadyena unguis-cati (Catclaw-vine)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in adjacent Harris County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Paederia foetida (Skunk vine)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in adjacent Harris County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

Pueraria montana var. lobata (Kudzu)  The EDDMapS shows it occurring in Montgomery County.  Click on Texas on the map and it will display the counties.

At the bottom of each species page there are links under SEARCH ONLINE to more information and photos of the plants.

 

More Plant Identification Questions

List of plants with
January 30, 2007 - Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like a list of all the plants which have been named for Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer. I would like to prepare this information for use at the Washington on the Brazos,...
view the full question and answer

Plant Identification in Houston, TX
October 10, 2013 - This plant to a bout a foot high. It almost looks like a weed and has a 2 in. furry top at the end. Also they were all gathered in a clump randomly around each other. What is this ?
view the full question and answer

Identification of possible edible huckleberry in Central Texas
July 20, 2007 - I'm trying to identify a plant in my backyard, and in particular, I'm wondering if it's an edible huckleberry of some kind. Given all the rain Austin has had this summer, I wonder if it's not bey...
view the full question and answer

Plant ID from Chicago
August 18, 2010 - When I was hiking in Portland, OR, my friend had me eat a leaf off of a trail-side plant. It tasted very much like sour apple, it was delicious. It has average-sized green leaves and in July it had no...
view the full question and answer

Do monarchs like Cynachum laeve in Austin, TX?
May 29, 2012 - I have found what I believe is Honeyvine (Cynanchum laeve) growing in my yard here in Austin. I tried using the LBJWC plant data base and could not find it. I also found the plant with a diff...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.