Tenacious Climber, can it be spared?

15 years ago

Hello All,

I need your assistance in identifying what I am going to call a vine that I have been tracking moving up the side of my home for the past 3 years or so. It has been quite aggressive and I admire it for itÃ¢ÂÂs tenacity. It has not injured my home (at least as far as I can tell). I think that vines on homes and buildings are quite attractive and I donÃ¢ÂÂt dislike the looks of this one and again, I have to respect itÃ¢ÂÂs tenacity.

My concern is that it is going to keep growing and eventually damage my home such as the gutters or underside of my roof. This is going to sound weird now and I am not crazy but I have been talking to this vine. It started to look like it was going to sprout some thorns and I spoke to it point blank and said Ã¢ÂÂif you sprout one thorn IÃ¢ÂÂll cut you outa here so fast you wonÃ¢ÂÂt know what hit youÃ¢ÂÂ It has never sprouted a thorn but did sprout berries that are now turning red.

I need help identifying this vine and then need advice as to whether it should be left to continue to grow up my house or should I cut it down. By the way it is also wrapped around some large trees across my yard; it seems to not be affecting the trees in any way.

I am posting pictures and a movie also below. Your time and help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Chris

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Comments (7)

Pipchris2
Original Author
15 years ago
Sorry the movie will not load to the site.
Chris
User
15 years ago
It's Oriental Bittersweet and should be yanked as soon as possible; it's a nasty, horrible invasive thing and is very difficult to get rid of.
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rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
15 years ago
I agree....and do it BEFORE those seeds ripen and birds spread the scourge all over the place. This plant will damage your home.
Pipchris2
Original Author
15 years ago
Got it. That was my worry and honestly the answer I was expecting.
I will cut it off of both my home and the trees.
Thank you both for your quick responses.
Chris
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
15 years ago
Loved reading your description of this plant & your conversations with it! If you can't have a little fun with the weeds, then man, they're just a total bummer. Have you developed any other personal relationships with stuff growing in your yard?

I've declared a truce with 30 ft. of raspberry vines along chain-link fence. I'm going to stop doing anything to them except mow nearby and they're going to make enough berries for a least a few jars of jam. I told them the figs were really showing them up. They looked remorseful and jealous.
Ament
15 years ago
I've declared a truce with 30 ft. of raspberry vines along chain-link fence. I'm going to stop doing anything to them except mow nearby and they're going to make enough berries for a least a few jars of jam. I told them the figs were really showing them up. They looked remorseful and jealous.

OMG I am sooo ready to do that with the darn bindweed in my yard! It's killing me. LOL Man, I gripe at it, whine at it, plead with it, beg it to stop choking my other things growing... Nothing is working. Haha! All I could do was laugh when I read this. Thank you for that. Now I don't feel quite so silly out there yanking those things out all the while talking to them. *chuckles*

~Tina
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
15 years ago
Ament, try reading the instructions by Bry84 (4th entry) on this discussion. Good luck!