Mile-a-minute vines are easily distinguished from other vining plants by their triangular leaves, distinctive prickles or barbs, and large, obvious ocrea (see species identification page for photos of these traits).

Other plants, particularly other vines, may be confused with mile-a-minute. Please use the guide below to help identify other vines which are generally native, non-invasive species. For advice and information on how to manage these plants in your garden or yard, contact UConn’s Home and Garden Center or your local County Master Gardener’s Program.

Silhouette of leaf*	Photos	Prickles	Ocrea	Tendrils	Common Name	Scientific Name
		no	no	no	Oriental Bittersweet**, Native Bittersweet	Celastrus orbiculatus, C. scandens
		yes	no	no	Halbred-leaved tearthumb	Polygonum arifolium
		yes	no	no	Arrow-leaved tearthumb	Polygonumsagittatum
		no	no	yes	Wild Morning Glory, Wild potato vine	lpomoea purpurea, I. pandurata
		no	no	yes	Swallowworts	Vincetoxicum sp.
		hairy stem	no	no	Hogpeanut	Amphicarpa bracteata
		no	no	yes	Grape	Vitis sp.
		no	no	no	Field Bindweed	Calystegia arvensis
		no	no	no	Hedge Bindweed	Calystegia sepium
		no	no	twining	Climbing False Buckwheat	Polygonum scandens
		hairy stem	no	yes	Bur cucumber	Sicyos angulatus
		yes	yes	no	Mile-a-minute vine/Devil’s tearthumb	Persicaria perfoliata

 

*Not to scale. Example only

**Note: other invasive species.

Go to the mile-a-minute reporting form: