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vines you love/hate

I would not be a very nice person if I didn't warn and or remind my fellow gardeners about a couple vines I am regretting. Wisteria is one of the more beautiful vines ever (along with kudzu) when in bloom, but I have only found one other that rivals it when it comes to tenacity and vigor; the trumpet creeper.

Thought I had the wisteria under control but this morning found new shoots and tentacles coming up under the deck about 10' away from main trunk and the new life is downright scary, haven't come up with a plan for that yet, too hot out there right now.

The trumpet creeper will NOT DIE, not from digging it up, not from the deadliest of chemicals, not snapping off new growth that appears everywhere within 20 feet from original planting, NOTHING can kill it. They should be using it to study cells that could attack cancer cells and there should be warning labels on that thing when you buy it about not planting it any closer than 100 yards from a building.

I'm just saying people.....

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Comment by David Featherhawk on November 8, 2010 at 9:55am: I can certainly commiserate with you about the Wisteria. Since mine has nothing to climb up on besides itself, it indeed has tried valiently to spread horizontally. It is a constant battle to keep it in check! If it wasn't so darn beautiful when it blooms, I'd whack the %*#*@ out of it! Just sayin' ! lol I've pulled up rooted runners and given them away with the caveat that I'm not responsible for what happens! There are a couple of photos of it featured right now and a couple more in my albums! Peace

Comment by Angie Orthwein on August 4, 2010 at 7:32pm: I've had the same problem with euonymous, both creeping and the kind that grows upward and can kill trees, forests and tall buildings. The ONLY way I've found to keep it at bay (but not altogether gone) is digging the shoots as I find them.

Comment by Maris Listello z5-IL on August 4, 2010 at 7:07pm: I've had my trumpet vine for over 5 years and didn't have a problem until this year. It is now popping up all over. I keep pulling out the shoots and they keep popping up.

Comment by Danielle Wright on August 4, 2010 at 3:45pm: I have the same problem! Our vines grow all along the fence! It is really annoying. I have to cut it out almost twice a week. I really wish it would stop.

Contributing Gardener Comment by Alison Clarke on August 4, 2010 at 2:08pm: Useful info! I really do want to grow Wisteria but looks like I'll give the trumpet creeper a miss!