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Virginia Creeper Look-A-Like with Thorns?

6 years ago

Hi! I'm trying to identify a weed/vine that's popping up all over my new yard. At first I thought it was poisonous, but it has sets of 5 leaves and thorns. So probably not poisonous. Maybe Virginia Creeper, but I thought VC didn't have thorns? Possibly a Dewberry vine? Any help would be greatly appreciated! It started in the back corner of the yard near a storm water drain but has shot up in the front, along the sides of the house ... seems to like areas with water for sure (near the hoses, drain spouts).

I'm on the coast of South Carolina, Zone 8b, 9a if that helps :)

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Comments (4)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Some species of Rubus ie a bramble.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years ago
Rubus includes blackberry and dewberry, but a bird-seeded plant like that might or might not have appealing fruit even if it is technically edible. Its placement suggests it was planted by a bird who had eaten the fruit and then deposited the seed as it perched on your fence. ;>)
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Hi, Marg. Thanks for the reply. When you say it has popped up in the flower beds, do you mean that the roots have travelled underground and then come to the surface in your flower beds and started growing or that the growth above ground has crept over there and rooted there? I have a friend, from whom I got the cutting, who has it growing over her 5000 gallon water tank. It has completely covered the tank and the top growth tries to grow further, but she keeps trimming the growth back to keep it in its boundaries. The roots, however, stay underground and she said they don't pop up anywhere. But I am still a little cautious. :-) Thanks again, Mary, and I look forward to your reply. In in zone 10, btw, if that makes any difference??
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Wowza, you guys rock. Thanks for the zippy replies. I've just finished reading up on the Leafcutter Bee--what a curious insect. I've never heard of a bee living like this. But yes, you're right--we definitely need to support the pollinators! So I will leave be the bees and they can have all of my creeper leaves that they want :) I am going to keep an eye out, too--I'd like to see these guys in action. Thanks again, Sherrin
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we are not afraid, lol. it started in the neighbors yrd and does spread into our blue spruce and around on the ground. we started trimming the spruce a couple of yrs ago then the creeper started climbing up it. easy fix really, the last 2 yrs i have just used a garden rake to pull it down. since it comes out all attached to each other it is only a 5 minute job but needs to be done yearly. we love it, it creates a great privacy fence. i read a tip somewhere about creeper and ivy too if you are worried about it on your house. if you girdle or sever the stems at the base and let it die off, it shouldnt do damage to your shingles or siding when you finally pull it off.
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You could still grow your own berries. But choose productive, named cultivars, often thornless, rather than taking a gamble on a wild self sower.
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susanzone5 (NY)
6 years ago
Agreed. Dig it up now and get rid of it before it makes fruit. The fruit isn't worth the plant taking over the place. It's awful.
Elise Giles
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Thank you all!! Agreed about getting rid of it. Although it may be "fun" to have berries in the backyard, I'm not crazy about it taking over the entire yard. Seems like round-up started killing it back pretty well. Once they grow a little more, I will dig all the baby plants up so they are just gone for good ... hopefully.

Thank you again!

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