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Invasive climbing weed, can anyone identify

quite contraryquite contrary Posts: 6
in Problem solving

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I have a friend who has an invasive climbing weed smothering shrubs in the garden. No idea at the moment if it flowers, loses leaf, changes colour etc. It twines on long stems but the leaf doesn't appear until it reaches light at the top of the shrubs. It then grows all around the tops of the shrubs. Will attempt to attach a photo

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 82,157

    No real clues but I'm making a stab in the dark at wild hops.

    Maybe more information will change my mind for me.

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • kate1123kate1123 Posts: 2,815

    Can I suggest you google images of bindweed and see if it is that.

  • quite contraryquite contrary Posts: 6

    I know bindweed, it's all over my allotment. It's definitely not that.

  • quite contraryquite contrary Posts: 6

    I've just checked out wild hops and think it may well be!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 82,157

    How good was that?  I guessed it before you put the picture up image image

    It looks like hops to me - it should feel rough, slightly bristly.  There are male and female hop plants, only the females will have the flowers used for brewing, but apparently home brewers are quite keen on getting 'green hop flowers' rather than dried ones so you could ask around if anyone wants them when they bloom.  They can look really attractive in the  autumn (there is a golden form too) and you can gather the vines with blooms on to decorate your home etc.  If you friend likes it tell him/her just to cut it down in the autumn, it'll regrow again, and if it's getting a bit rampant just thin out the growing stems and try to train it into a tree or trellis/arbour/boundary hedge etc.  Or if they really hate it they could dig it out and glyphosate any regrowth.

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • tooniatoonia Posts: 25

    Also check out White Bryony

    http://www.cotswoldyear.com/2010/07/white-bryony.html

  • Jeanne FJeanne F Posts: 7

    I think it is most likely White Bryony

  • BookertooBookertoo Posts: 1,306

    I've got the goldern version, rate of spring growth is phenomenal!  Does need keeping under control though ........... it fights with my vine in what we call 'brewers corner'.

  • quite contraryquite contrary Posts: 6

    White Bryony is looking like a good contender. I'll get him to check both hops and bryony and see what he thinks. I get the impression from other pics he sent that the leaf is quite smooth

     

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Central Norfolk UKPosts: 82,157

    If the leaves and stem are smooth and not bristly then it's White Bryony - drat, foiled again image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







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