Twining vines (look for spiraling, twisting st ems): Asian bittersweet – Celastrus orbiculatus (invasive), Japanese honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica (invasive), American bittersweet – Celastrus scandens (native), trumpet honeysuckle – Lonicera sempervirens (native) Poison ivy can grow as a climbing vine, so if you have one of these, you may not want to touch it with bare hands! Climbing vines produce aerial roots along their entire stem and tend to grow in a relatively straight fashion up tree trunks and other flat surfaces. Grabbing vines produce tendrils or sticky pads that grab onto support structures. Twining vines, sometimes called bines, typically grow in a spiral around a tree or other support structure. There are three basic types of vine anatomy that give some clues: twining, grabbing, and clinging vines (see inset for examples you might find in natural areas). This can be easier said than done, especially if the leaves of the vine are high up. The first step in tackling a vine (or deciding whether it needs tackling) is figuring out what it is. Many of them can also grow as groundcover, creeping along the forest floor covering up virtually every plant in their way. Invasive vines like Asian bittersweet ( Celastrus orbiculatus), wintercreeper ( Euonymus fortunei), and porcelain berry ( Ampelopsis brevipedunculata), are harmful to both individual trees and the surrounding ecosystem. While native vines like wild grape ( Vitus sp.) and Virginia creeper ( Parthenocissus quinquefolia) can still harm trees, they also provide habitat and food for native birds and critters. That said, there are vines that are native to the Great Lakes and larger Midwest. If the vine canopy grows thick enough, it can block its host from light, and if the central vine winds tightly enough, it can even girdle the tree trunk. The extra surface area and weight from vines make trees more vulnerable to storm damage. Being smothered by large vines is not good for trees.
You’re walking through your woods or perhaps a nearby nature preserve and then you see it: a vine as thick as your forearm making its way up a tree.