Not Virginia creeper, which has five leaves. Or poison ivy. I think. I'm trying to figure this one out. We found in the Meadow on a live oak.UPDATE May 29, 2010–Case solved. Sorrelvine, cow-itch vine (Cissus trifoliata), a member of the grape family. According to Wildflowers Trees, and Shrubs of Texas, it can cause contact dermatitis in some individuals.
19 comments:
I'm in San Antonio, regular neighborhood and this stuff grows up the trees and up the house.
Congrats on getting your yard certified - I've always wanted to do that - its certainly wild enough :) I came here seeking the vine's name. Thanks.
There is one large patch growing on my house in the front and three or more large patches growing on my house in the back. It can reach the eaves and to the tops of trees if you let it. It doesn't make me itch at all but it does have a funny smell. Its only redeeming qualities for me are that is is hostplant to many interesting insects, one of which is the vine sphinx - a very handsome caterpillar and moth.
Really?! Now you taught me something! I'll have to watch our vines. I checked the species you mention: Vine sphinx (Eumorpha vitis). Cool. Thanks!
Hi Ladies,
I live 40 miles south of Fort Worth in an area of sand over red clay with lots of post oak trees. There hadn't been a human on my property for several decades before I bought it and began to clear parts of it. I have almost as much of this stuff as I do poison oak and ivy. I am highly allergic to it all, but this stuff makes me break out in rashes for weeks if I don't get a cortisone shot right away. The prescription medicines (creams) for contact dermatitis that cure poison oak and ivy over night, do not phase the rash from this stuff. I love my place, but am thinking of giving it up because of this one plant!
Sheryl,
I too am a writer, but a Realtor full time. I don't make much money from either right now, but I love it as well. I write mostly outdoors stories or hunting stories for magazines. From your window view, it looks like you are more in the Hill Country of Texas, south or west of my place. Good luck, and thanks for helping me identify this plant. I have a doctors appointment in the morning to try a new cream or get a shot, hopefully? Thanks again,
Rick
Hi, Rick: Yep, we're in the heart of the Hill Country in Blanco County. Which magazines do you write for? I used to be a member of the Texas Outdoor Writers Association, which is still going strong. I consider myself an outdoors writer but not the hunting/fishing part. :-)
P.S. GOOD LUCK WITH THE SHOT, RICK! Oh, my, I hope you find some relief! I've had poison ivy several times so I feel your pain!
Hi,
where can I get seeds of this vine?
You know, I don't know. It just grows "wild" around here.
I live on Lake Ray Hubbard & this vine grows wild on my back porch. Being an avid gardener I've found I'm allergic to most grasses & vines. I heard coconut oil was good for your skin so I tried it one day. To my amazement it completely stops itching & every rash I've encountered from being outside. It also makes mosquito bites stop hurting, with the bite whelp disappearing completely within a couple of hours! I told a friend who gets poison ivy from taking her dog to the park. She has been equally surprised that it reduces the redness, bumps & itch very quickly, never allowing it to progress any further! I use an organic coconut oil I get for cooking (from Herb Mart in Mesquite).
Hmmm, interesting heads up. I'll have to try some. Thanks!
This is the 2nd year I've noticed this in my front yard in Keller. I got a bad id last year as giant hogweed, which is really nasty but is something else. So I tried to kill it but it came back. I do think sorrelvine is the correct id. It appears to have 1 tri lobed fleshy leaf. I'll put some gloves on and damage a leaf and see if it stinks.
Nice to see a Texas wildscape blog. I'll check in from time to time.
I hope you do, Zancat! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for posting. I am in NW San Antonio and have this growing all over. I had ID'd it before but was having a very hard time this time. I found a new (to me) medium sized caterpillar on it and wanted to ID it. It was a Wilson's Wood Nymph, Xerociris wilsonii. Caterpillar is more interesting than the moth :) But moth is pretty cute. I really like the vine sphinx and have seen several caterpillars and moths over the years - both are really nice.
Awesome find on your vine! I’ll have to check ours. —Sheryl Rodgers
Glad to finally find out what this vine is, it covers fence lines and tress on my property. I live on the far south East corner of Texas and this vines grows everywhere pretty hard to get rid of without pulling up the roots.
I had sorrelvine come up in a flower pot and I didn’t plant it where would it come from I have never seen it around here ?
Probably a bird? Nature is really good at dispersing seeds.
I'm glad to know it's not poison ivy, but I'll still wear gloves and long sleeves when pulling it out. If it's not poison ivy, I suppose I can put it in the burn pile, rather than in the trash. It loves my compost pile, my rose bushes, and my shaded front fence.. It has a strong odor when I pull it out, and on the larger leaves the joining stems are red. It's annoying and invasive, but if someone wanted to grow it on purpose, you could probably plant cuttings or gather the little white berries when they ripen. I read they're not to be eaten.
This is Sheryl. I'm glad you're wearing gloves. I haven't had any issues when I've pulled this vine. It's really kinda pretty.
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