What is Mile-a-Minute Weed?
Mile-a-minute weed (MAMW) threatens Michigan’s environment and agricultural economy. As of December 2023, the Barry-Calhoun-Kalamazoo Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (BCK CISMA) has confirmed this invasive species in 80 locations across three townships in Calhoun County by surveying over 10,000 acres.
MAMW, Persicaria perfoliata, decreases native vegetation and habitat by covering and suffocating the vegetation with its dense foliage. MAMW has the potential for economic issues in Christmas tree plantations and landscape nurseries as the plant can smother out the trees. It can colonize forest edges, wetlands, roadsides, and stream banks rapidly. Wildlife is also impacted by MAMW infestation in natural areas.
Have you seen this plant?
Where did it 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 as of 2020, 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?
MAMW is an annual vine, and our goal is to prevent new seeds from forming and depleting the seed bank in the soil. For small sites, we can hand-pull the vines and monitor the area. For larger sites, which is the majority of them, we apply herbicide to the plants to kill the network of vines using glyphosate or triclopyr-based herbicides.
Recently, we have been exploring soil treatments for areas with dense patches present for multiple years to address the extensive seed banks directly. This is termed pre-emergent herbicide.
Barry Conservation District uses the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program funding to hire a seasonal team to survey and treat this plant. BCK CISMA’s partnership brings together professionals with a variety of experiences and assists building connections in the community.
Are you near Albion, MI or think you have mile-a-minute weed? Fill out a permission form below to start the process!
We can mail you a permission form directly to your house, just give us a phone call at
269-908-4136 or stop by Calhoun Conservation District at 13464 Preston Dr. Marshall, MI