What is Mile-a-Minute Weed?
Mile-a-minute weed (MAMW) is an aggressive threat to Michigan’s native plants and wildlife. As of December 2023, the Barry-Calhoun-Kalamazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (BCK CISMA) has confirmed this invasive species in 33 locations across three townships in Calhoun County by surveying over 7,700 acres!
MAMW, Persicaria perfoliata, decreases native vegetation and habitat by covering and suffocating the vegetation with its dense foliage and the vegetation is suppressed due to lack of sunlight. MAMW can be a major economic issue in Christmas tree plantations and landscape nurseries as the plant can smoother out the trees. It can rapidly colonize forest edges, wetlands, roadsides, and streambanks. Wildlife is also impacted by MAMW infestation in natural areas.
Have you seen this plant?
Where did mile-a-minute weed come from?
Mile-a-minute weed is native to India and East Asia. It was first introduced in Oregon in 1890s but was eradicated. It was accidentally reintroduced to York County, Pennsylvania in the 1930's in holly seed. Since then, MAMW has spread to all mid-Atlantic states, across the Midwest, and is now in Michigan.
What does mile-a-minute weed look like?
triangular leaves • curved barbs • blue fruit
Small, inconspicuous white flowers form in early summer and develop into metallic blue fruit in later summer on an elongated cluster at the vine’s tips.
Mile-a-minute weed gets its common name from being able to grow up to 6 inches in a single day! This is one of the many advantages that allow this vine to quickly take over an area, even smothering trees.
The plant can self-pollinate and its seeds are viable for up to six years in the soil. The seeds are dispersed by birds and other wildlife. They can also float for up to nine days and travel downstream from the infestation. This annual plant dies back at first frost but leaves dense mats that are visible throughout winter.
How to get rid of mile-a-minute weed?
As part of the Barry-Calhoun-Kalamazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (BCK CISMA), funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, Barry Conservation District operates a strike team to assist with treatment of select invasive species on your land. This includes mile-a-minute week. Contact us for free consultation. We have been able to treat for MAMW on 150+ acres since its 2020 discovery in Albion, Michigan.
