Mile-a-Minute

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One minute later and this happens!

Credit: Yun Wu, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Mile-a-minute weed is called that for a reason: it grows very, very quickly. Since its American debut in the 1930s, this annual trailing vine has spread throughout much of the northeastern U.S., seeking out disturbed areas along the edges of woods and wetlands and along stream banks, roads, and parks.

If left unchecked, mile-a-minute can kill the plants over which it trails, and it eventually crowds out native plant species. It poses especially serious risks for woodland owners who are growing or regenerating forests, because it can smother tree seedlings.

To protect your woods from mile-a-minute, it’s helpful to have the right information. In this section, you’ll learn about how mile-a-minute can affect your land, what to do if you find it on your property, and how to prevent it from growing in your woodlands.