A highly invasive plant known as dog-strangling vine has been spotted in Norfolk County.
Article content
Listed as a noxious weed in Ontario, the vine has been spotted in the area north of the Black Bridge on the Waterford Heritage Trail and the neighborhood surrounding Waterford Public School. It has also been spotted in the neighborhood surrounding Simcoe Composite School, county officials say.
“Dog-strangling vine is problematic because it grows very aggressively, produces a lot of seed that spreads easily in the wind and it can grow from root fragments making it very difficult to control,” county officials said in a social media post. “It is listed as a noxious weed in Ontario and regulated under Norfolk County’s lot maintenance bylaw.”
The plant can easily escape into natural areas where it quickly displaces native vegetation. It can take over an entire forest or meadow, county officials say.
The plant is currently flowering which helps identify it. Later in the summer, it will develop seed pods similar to milkweed that open and release fluffy seeds.
Sightings of dog-strangling vine can be reported to Norfolk County Forestry at [email protected].
.
twitter.com/EXPVBall
Share this article in your social network