Potato vine

General description

Perennial evergreen woody vine. Stems are < 15 m long. Leaves are ovate to lanceolate, < 50 x 25 mm, often lobed and alternate. Flowers are white, star-shaped and borne in branched terminal inflorescences. Fruits are round, shiny, dark blue-black berries.

What you need to know

Although potato vine is not a legally declared pest plant, it may still be invasive in some situations. Consider lower risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Habitats

Forest, forest margins, gardens.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by birds. Vegetative spread. Human-mediated dispersal through dumping of garden waste and deliberate plantings.

Impact on environment

Can form dense infestations, smothering other vegetation.

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 (except vines if left to die in trees).

Disposal options: Compost in a composting weed bag or remove to greenwaste or landfill

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of seedlings with glyphosate gel. Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water.

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 100ml glyphosate green per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.