Purple Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Invasive Management Profile
Purple Wintercreeper is an evergreen vine, meaning it lives through the winter and remains green throughout the year. This vine can still be bought in stores in Indiana but due to its rapid growth and ability to grow in dense shade, it will take over trees and whole forests.
Identification
The leaves on the Purple Wintercreeper are opposite, glossy, dark green, slightly toothed, with light-colored veins, light green on the bottom and about 1-2.5 in. long. Purple Wintercreeper can grow 30 or more feet up trees. Ground cover populations of Purple Wintercreeper will seldom flower but need to climb to get more sunlight for the flower and fruit to produce. The flowers are small, green and bloom in June and July. Fruits are small round pink-red capsules with a tan husk that peels back when ripe.
Purple Wintercreeper
Chris Evans, University of Illinois
Purple Wintercreeper
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
Purple Wintercreeper
Ansel Oommen
Purple Wintercreeper
James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service
Tools & Supplies Needed
- Shovel, Spade, or Lopper
- Protective eyewear and clothing
- Paper or plastic bags for disposal
Removal Methods
Purple Wintercreeper can be fairly easy to remove if it hasn’t started climbing. Late fall or early winter is the recommended time for removal.
STEP 1 : Identify plant using our identification tips and photos as well as the time of year and growth stage.
STEP 2 : Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and clothing.
STEP 3 : Use your hand to grab the bottom of the plant, twist, and pull.
STEP 4 : When pulling, make sure to remove the taproot, which is the main root system (this may be easily removed with a spade or shovel as well).
STEP 5 : Make sure to place all plant debris into a plastic or paper bag to control seed spread.
For larger infestations and climbing vines, you may need to use clippers to cut vines at the base of the tree.
STEP 1 : Identify plant using our identification tips and photos as well as the time of year and growth stage.
STEP 2 : Wear protective eyewear, gloves and clothing.
STEP 3 : Cut the vines around the base of the tree or structure it is climbing using a saw or lopper. Leave the rest of the vine on the tree.
STEP 4 : Wait for the vine to dry out, die, and fall off.
STEP 5 : Place all dead debris in a paper or plastic bag for landfill.
Disposal
For disposal of Purple Wintercreeper, package the plant waste in a plastic or paper bag for landfill. Regrowth is possible even after herbicide use so make sure to check the area. A weed mat can help prevent regrowth. Weed mats can be purchased at your local gardening or hardware store. A weed mat is a thin strip of material that will let water through but prevent weeds from reaching the surface.
Native Alternative Species
To learn more about natives and how to landscape with them click here.
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
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