Anyone else have this vine....clingy tendrils -- and WICKED thorns. They aren't long but they hurt and will catch on the slightest thing. It's a nasty bugger alright. I haven't found a glove yet it wont go through.

My English Ivy I can pull out of the ground...but not this cat briar/greenbriar. It's growing among my ivy, periwinkle, and even gets up some of my dogwoods.

I have a steep brush/wooded hillside -- and I know vines are good for helping with erosion -- but I can't imagine anyone would plant THIS. It's serious business for sure.

About once a year I get after it with brush and vine killer...but have to be careful because I don't want to kill the ivy and the trees that are there.

Interesting. WIll have to google that one because I've never heard of this vine. Is this a native vine that takes over, or was purchased and planted as a ground cover?

ve

Oh my! I just googled this one...it is what down here we just call a Sawbrier Vine. It is a native and hardy...will take over any bush or tree almost as bad as kudzu. Agree, the thorns are wicked.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: vera ellen,

We call it either cat briar or Smilax. It has a tuber that has to be dug up in order to control it. Just cutting off the vine won't do a thing. Little vines have small tubers. Big vines have big tubers. If any part of the tuber is left in the ground, it'll regrow -- at least that's what it does here. Hate those things.

Around here we just call it "cat claw" and yes, it will get you if you get near it.
FFG is correct about the tubers! The last place I rented, I was trying to clean it out of a fence line...I dug up tubers that were as big as basketballs only long like a sweet potato! And some of them were close to 2' deep! I dig it out of our woodsy area any time I see them...the root will spread underground and form another tuber also...so follow the root and be sure you get the end of it. ANY piece, root or tuber will grow another one!
I have a bunch right now that I need to dig out. It will be an all day job or maybe even a couple of days...they aren't easy to dig.