Russian Vine Or Mile a Minute plant ADVICE

[wykesmallholder]

just a quick question does anyone know about the russian vine other than being an invasive climber does it creep across the ground as well there is one at work covering a perimeter fence but at either side it is tarmac and block paved with just a strip of ground by the fence just enquiring because i was thinking of taking some cuttings and planting it along my fence on the boundary of my plot to screen a mesh fence i have put up

Any info would be much appreciated
cheers Lee

[piskieinboots]

EEEEEKK - tread very carefully, it is a Football-Thug-on-a-Saturday-night-after-a-few-beers plant

For those that don't know it (and I'm sure you all do) - here is the little darling about to eat a fence - looks like his team lost

[Two_Sheds]

it sends up suckers everywhere .... a passion flower would be slightly better behaved, or honeysuckle

[sarraceniac]

The Russian vine also can have a rather distinctive smell after a rain shower. Some people like it. Others say it stinks (invasively) of cats' wee on garlic.

[Nicos]

My brother had one at a previous house- and as it's main stem was next door, he couldn't get rid of it. (I think his neighbours had planted it to hide his garage/shed). He'd chop it back to the boundary every year and by mid summer it'd be half way across his patio!

I certainly wouldn't chose to plant one- too much work to keep it controlled!

I like the idea of a flowering climber- or two- intertwining- so you get continuous flowering...it'll attract bees and pollinating insects to your plot- and help your crops!

[BumbleB]

We have it at the very top of our garden - a steep unaccessible part that is mostly for the wildlife and like a woodland. It gives a beautiful display, we have been watching it turn bright red over the last 2 months. But I would not plant it in a normal sized garden as it is much too invasive!

[Jardiniere]

i had one in london to provide a bit of privacy from the street...however it took over the front garden...we had complaints from neighbours and once when i was cutting it back i cut through the phone wire and had to pay £80 to be re-connected.
NEVER EVER GROW IT. EVER. NEVER.....

[Jeanied]

I think the advice is - walk away from the russian vine! Plant ivy, for the wildlife, or clematis, for the flowers, or honeysuckle, for the bees, virginia creeper for the autumn colour - anything but the russian vine!

[bramble]

I planted a honeysuckle a few years ago and it continuously strangled everything.
When I went to dig it up it had a root like a young tree.
Never again.
My father planted an ivy and it grew under the eves of the house.
Go with the clematis if I were you, such a variety of size and colour and will bloom at all tines of the year.

[dmjoshi]

looking for seeds for mile a minute vine, Russian Ivy

Found it being sold as plant in a pot. But I need seeds to send them to India. A 4 story house owner wants a creeper that will cove the face of the building to shade it completely from sun, in place of installing Air-Conditioning the building.

[Fruit&2veg]

Had one at a previous house which i planted to cover an unsightly double garage, which it did in 2 years flat-from then on it was a constant battle to contain it- so unless you have unlimited space,or REALY hate your neighbours I would agree it is best avoided.

[dmjoshi]

How hospitable is Russian Vine to insects, Honeybees, Wasps, compared with say Boston Ivy?

[dmjoshi]

Did you get a plant, or stem cutting to plant it? For me I need seeds.

[Fruit&2veg]

Did you get a plant, or stem cutting to plant it? For me I need seeds.

Sorry, mine was a plant from a garden centre

[Polly Fouracre]

Russian vine

How much does it weigh? I was thinking of growing one along my chicken fencing (eight feet high) but don't want it to bring the fencing down. If just grown to shade the poultry from the sun along that side during the summer could I cut it right back in the late autumn for growing again next spring?