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Porcelain-berry in early autumn
The porcelain-berry vine is a relatively new invasive to Long Island. It is similar in appearance to our New England grape with twining tendrils, except that the pith (center of the vine) of porcelain-berry is solid white; its mature bark often separates from the pith; the woody vines are very flexible; the berry colors may be white, yellow, lilac, turquoise, green or pink, eventually turning dark blue; the leaves are generally smaller with deep lobes; and the best indicator: the underside of the porcelain berry leaf is always glossy.
The leaf at the right is one of two cotyledons; The underside of true porcelain-berry leaves are glossy.
While the first two small leaves (cotyledons), which appear from seed, are egg-shaped with a tapering point and widest near the petiole or stem, the first true leaves resemble New England grape, but with a glossy underside. These vines often run along the ground where they may root where the nodes make contact.
Porcelain-berry flowers in late spring
When vines are cut above ground they may be placed on a tree or shrub to dry. However, once in bloom or with berries, the vines and berries must be removed and disposed of. While this is the first step to achieve control, vines should then be uprooted with the appropriate method shown below.
Pulling porcelain-berry vines from a tree in late summer
Young vines thicken for about two inches above the ground. These vines are easily removed by grabbing low on this thickened portion with a pair of linesman’s 8-inch pliers, using a back and forth pulling motion, ideally in damp soil, while visualizing the root as it releases.
Young porcelain-berry root
Older porcelain-berry root crown with laterals and small vine
Large linesman’s pliers and leveraged hand weeder for young plants
At the next growth stage, the thick portion becomes the root crown, which must be dug out — using a leveraged hand weeder for small roots, or with a pick-axe, mattock, or Pulaski axe for larger roots. Then the exposed crown may be extracted with large pliers or weed wrench and the severed lateral roots removed.
A Pulaski axe was used here
12 foot root of porcelain-berry vine with crown at Kate’s shoulder
The lateral roots are reddish brown, knotty/rubbery, and the root bark easily separates from the core or pith. But because severed roots may send up suckers all flexible (live) parts must be allowed to dry above ground or safely bagged/discarded, and the site routinely monitored.
Vines include Zig-zag porcelain-berry in winter
Older porcelain-berry vines can be identified in mid winter by the straw colored zigzag vine with curly tendrils at the nodes. During a winter thaw, dig out the root crown with a pick or Pulaski axe and pull lateral roots with the linesman’s pliers or weed wrench.
Winter Porcelain-berry Zigzag Vine with Tendrils
Check on regrowth monthly and, with linesman pliers, remove suckers and new seedlings in the area as they emerge.
Click Restoration to view an invasion of this plant at a local park.