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?

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
Not Yet Rated

Friday - September 12, 2014

From: Spartanburg, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Invasive Plants, Vines
Title: Aggressive vine with purple flowers in South Carolina
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Found an aggressive climbing vine with purple flowers in out vegetable garden. This garden was cleaned and new dirt, mulch and manure was put in in the spring. It was raked out after the infusion of dirt etc. and sat for a couple weeks before planting. Now, as the tomatoes, beans, kale, etc are coming up nicely, there is this vine where the peppers should be. What should I do with it? is it a weed? Thanks

ANSWER:

Here are some likely suspects from the South Carolina native vine ranks:

Passiflora incarnata (Purple passionflower)  Although a beautiful vine, it does occur on the U. S. Weeds list.  It can be quite aggressive.  Read more from Loyola University's Center for Environmental Communication.

Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba (Tievine)  It is cited in our species page as an aggressive grower.  Here is a link to a previous question about this plant.

If your plant is not one of these two, you can do a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database.  Choose "South Carolina" from the Select State or Province slot; "Vine" from Habit (general appearance), "Blue", "Purple", and "Violet" from Bloom Color to see if there is another native vine that it could be.  You can also check the Clemson University publication, Invasive Plant Species of South Carolina, for possibilities.

Is it a weed?   One definition of a weed is:  A weed is a plant growing somewhere it isn't wanted. 

So you'll have to decide if its beauty outweighs its invasiveness.

 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Is Mimosa pudica poisonous from Janesville WI
February 21, 2014 - I have just recently learned of Mimosa Pudica also known as the sensitive plant. I see using the USDA website that it can be found in the USA so I think that covers the North America aspect. I have b...
view the full question and answer

Growing native vines in pots from Houston
May 28, 2012 - I am writing in regards to your often mentioned issue of plants not doing as well in pots and in the ground. After last years drought, i moved all the plants I had that were in danger of dying of t...
view the full question and answer

Eliminating gift plant from flowerbed
June 20, 2010 - A neighbor gave me cuttings of a lush green plant with a blue flower with a yellow center that is only open in morning. It has become very invasive. I cut it back and dug at least 6-12" deep to get t...
view the full question and answer

Controlling Passionflora Incarnata propagation
March 20, 2012 - Would a cinderblock raised bed, 8 inches in height, be sufficient to contain the roots of passiflora incarnata and keep them from traveling to places where I don't want the vine? Are the roots deepe...
view the full question and answer

The invasiveness of Lupinus arboreus
January 23, 2009 - Hi, Researching Lupinus arboreus, I found that it is considered a serious invasive in Northern California coastal areas, especially Humbolt Bay. Scotch broom, of course, is an awful pest on the coast...
view the full question and answer

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