Similar Species Guide

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
oriental bittersweet leaf shape Oriental bittersweet leavesOriental bittersweet berries - redOriental bittersweet vine around tree trunk no no no Oriental Bittersweet**, Native Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus, C. scandens
 halbred leavedtear thumb - shaped like triangular hat  Halbred-leaved tearthumb plant  yes no no  Halbred-leaved tearthumb  Polygonum arifolium
 arrow leaved tearthumb leaf shape - arrow-shaped  3 arrow-leaved tearthumb leaves on paperArrow-leaved tearthumb leaf and stem  yes no no  Arrow-leaved tearthumb  Polygonumsagittatum
wild morning glory leaf shape - heart shaped no no yes Wild Morning Glory, Wild potato vine lpomoea purpurea, I. pandurata
swallow-wort leaf shape - oblanceolate no no yes Swallowworts Vincetoxicum sp.
hog peanut leaf shape - three leaves hairy stem no no Hogpeanut Amphicarpa bracteata
 Grape leafGrape leaf and vineGrape vines  no no yes  Grape  Vitis sp.
 field bindweed leaf shape - similar to rocket ship shape  Field Bindweed leaves  no no no  Field Bindweed  Calystegia arvensis
hedge bindweed leaf shape - triangular with concave bottom Hedge Bindweed vine and leavesHedge Bindweed leavesHedge Bindweed leaves no no no Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium
Climbing False Buckwheat leavesClimbing False Buckwheat leaves and stem no no twining Climbing False Buckwheat Polygonum scandens
bur cucumber leaves hairy stem no yes Bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
 Mile a minute leaf shape - triangle 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: