Dipogon lignosus

Mile-a-minute

Family: Fabaceae

Origin: South Africa

Mature Mile a Minute growing over other plants.
A fast growing vine that smothers other plants and can collapse trees. Dense stems and leaves block the light from other plants causing them to die.

Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) status

  • National Pest Plant Accord Species
  • Aotea — Progressive containment
  • Whole region — Sustained control

View more about the RPMP statuses

General description

Evergreen perennial climber. Leaves are made up of three roughly triangular/heart-shaped leaflets. Flowers are pea-like, white/pink/red and borne in July – January. Seedpods are sickle-shaped.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

  • You must not breed, distribute, release or sell mile-a-minute. As mile-a-minute is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand.
  • You must not plant mile-a-minute within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
  • You must destroy any mile-a-minute on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.

Auckland Council will manage mile-a-minute at all sites within the Aotea/Great Barrier Island group where it is known to occur.

If you see mile-a-minute anywhere on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group, please report it to Auckland Council at pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Habitats

Scrubland, forest and riparian margins, wetlands, coastal areas, roadsides, urban areas.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by explosive dehiscence and water. Human-mediated dispersal through dumping of garden waste and deliberate plantings.

Impact on environment

Smothers trees and destroys forest structure. Nitrogen fixer. May facilitate the establishment and growth of exotic plants.

Control

Site Management

Cut and pull vines away from desirable trees and native plants before foliar spraying. Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Cut vines and leave upper stems to die in trees or dig out.

Plant parts requiring disposal: All parts.

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill if practical.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel.

Basic Growsafe certified: Cut stump and spray freshly cut base of stems with 1g metsulfuron-methyl per 1 L of water.

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 3g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.

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Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.

Triangular leaflets of Mile a Minute.
An evergreen climber that is fast growing and hardy. Distinctive heart-shaped leaves that grow in sets of three.
Mile a Minute in flower.
Producing pink flowers similar to pea flowers. Flowering can start in winter and remain through to mid-summer.
Photo credit: Jonathan Boow
Same image as Mile a Minute 01
Mile a Minute with flowers and seed pods.
Flowers mature into seed pods which open in the heat of summer to spread seed. Seeds are shot from the pods during summer rain as the pods explode open.