A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Mystery Plants? Arching, thorny plant - what is it?

My back yard is very wild, almost forest-like) but it's recently been invaded by a dreadful arching plant with a thorny stem. I hope someone can identify it - it's pretty distinctive.

The plant a single long stem (maybe a vine) that arches up as much as six or eight feet before falling back to the ground. The stem looks "fuzzy", but it's actually all tiny, painful thorns. The leaves are in groups of three, medium green on the top but a very distinctive silver on the bottom.

I had one person knowledgeable about plants tell me it was a "wild rose", but it doesn't bloom and I can find no references to anything remotely similar by looking up that term in my references.

The thorns are so stiff they can pierce even "thorn-proof" gloves, so it's difficult to remove. Can anyone identify this? If not, I'll try to get a picture.

Pulling/digging is very difficult because of the thorns and the depth of the roots. I've considered spraying the upper part with Round-Up. Do you think that will work? Any other suggestions for getting rid of this uninvited "guest"? Thanks very much.

It almost sounds like a berry of some kind.
If it is unwanted, I would definitely do the roundup thing. Although that makes my organic gardening friends cringe. Try to isolate it from the wanted plants before spraying it. It sounds like it has super invasive roots that might regrow if you leave any behind. And it may need more than one application of roundup.

could it be blackberry or raspberry vines that aren't getting enough sun to produce?

sounds like it to me. and a tip for those plants that go through thorn proof gloves, use a pair of vice grips. work great!

hi there,and welcome!

you've been given some great advice here.

It could be a wild rose or maybe a wild bramble..like raspberry or blackberry.

I would snip them off at ground level....just like Jiffymouse said.
With heavy gloves and cutters.If you can cut back the green part of the plant,its toast.

Brambles are such a pain, because they resurface again and again because of the roots.
Very ..gah..close to the surface....I've had this problem too.

You dont want to use round up.It will kill your soil.
There is always an organic solution...really...I'll help you and other folks too.

Again,welcome.

Shari

oops..I forgot to mention these good pages of info.

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/weeds.html

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/compost.html

good and helpful reading.....thanks Bill.

Don't spray the round up on, paint it on the leaves using a small paint brush and the round up in a plastic container. Round up has to get on green growing leaves or it does not work. It only stays in the soil for about 30 days or so then it breaks down naturally. It does not kill the soil. By painting it on you get it just where you need it and no over spray to worry about. The only organic solution is to big them out, root by tiny root.