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Need Help! Invasive Vine! Need to Identify!

10 years ago

I am in Oklahoma City, OK, and noticed a vine in my backyard.

It thrives in damp conditions; I initially noticed it in a part of the yard where grass doesn't grow.

Shoots come straight up out of the lawn, but it has grown up trees and bushes. It isn't a spreading ground covering.

The initial sprout is red, but as the leaves grow they turn green.

It is spreading into the lush grass in my yard. I began pulling up the vines that were a few inches under the grown. They are rubbery, Tarzan-like, and criss-cross over each other. I started digging deeper and found purple colored roots 2 feet under the ground and up to 4 inches wide (what I've discovered to date!).

The deep underground roots are generally smooth, like piping and grow straight out similar to how a rope would lay on the ground. Please help! Landscapers have not been able to ID it.

Regards,
Homeowner in Oklahoma

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Comments (5)

mstockdell
Original Author
10 years ago
I've added an additional image of one of the uncovered roots.

I appreciate your help in advance.
florauk
10 years ago
Compare with Ampelopsis arborea aka Pepper Vine.
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you need to learn how to insert finger and FIND OUT when your plants need water ... and/or when your soil needs water ... you have to learn how to NOT guess ... every 3 or 4 days.. may or may not be good enough ... and that is why relying on lawn sprinklers or some such.. often fails ... once you figure out how moisture moves thru your soil.. you might be able to use an automated system ... but then you will have the problem of some of the plants being too wet.. and others too dry ... so.. i suspect transplant shock.. related to less than stellar watering ...[you didnt really tell us when they were planted] but 2 thumbs up for noting the new growth is unaffected ... and .. to me.. that means you are close to getting it right .... if new growth was impacted.. you would be looking at serious problems ... btw .. once fully established ... once they have gotten over transplant shock.. you may have to adjust watering again ... ken
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kayjones
10 years ago
It looks like trumpet vine aka Campsis radicans, which is a native vine in your area.
florauk
10 years ago
Campsis radicans has much more regular, pinnate leaves. Ampelopsis arborea occurs in Oklahoma.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ampelopsis arborea
mstockdell
Original Author
10 years ago
Awesome. Thank you guys! I'm conducting my research now. The pepper vine looks accurate so far.

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