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virginia creeper? #935926

Asked June 17, 2026, 7:33 PM EDT

Hi- I sent in a inquiry to irradiate round leaf bittersweet, and what to use. However I just found out it does not fruit. I am sending on another closer up photo. The vine trunk has vertical lines on the bark. It also grows and spreads underground. We need help please! Thanks

Ramsey County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.
You sent me a 60 kb image from was a 6 megabyte original. It is too low res to work with. Please send the original.

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied June 17, 2026, 9:54 PM EDT

Hi Steve - do u have a direct email I can send it to? My Gmail doesn’t send that large of file.

Lisa

On Wed, Jun 17, 2026 at 8:54 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 17, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT

Thank you for sending me the inexplicably clowdy picture of Virginia Creeper.
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/virginia-creeper
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=paqu2

I prefer the cut stump method as it is less dangerous to wanted plants. I have handled this plant without skin problems many times but it is recommended that you wear gloves. DO NOT BURN or COMPOST. Bag it and send it to a city or garden center lawn waste center. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/getting-the-upper-hand-on-virginia-creeper/

The root system is extensive--it takes a couple years to get rid of this.

Steve Miles, Master Gardener, Hennepin County, (I am a volunteer human being: not a bot, not AI). I'm an avid gardener but not a degreed or certified horticulturist or arborist. I will do much better if you also send a photograph. I like follow-up questions. The University' garden soil tests are excellent. https://soiltest.cfans.umn.edu/testing-services/lawn-garden This is how to find a tree expert. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is a wonderful place to see and learn about plants that grow in Minnesota. https://mngardens.horticulture.umn.edu/minnesota-landscape-arboretum Replied June 18, 2026, 1:44 PM EDT

thanks Steve

On Thu, Jun 18, 2026 at 12:44 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 18, 2026, 2:30 PM EDT

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This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Ag Extension grant no. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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