When a peppervine started growing along this fence about 3 years ago, my husband asked what it was. I told him & we decided it would be a fine addition to our native habitat, and the fence would be a great place for it since it is mowed on all sides. He has been guiding it to solidly cover the fence and stay off of the ground. About a month ago I asked him to please find a project for some bamboo that he had brought home. So he is going to let the vines have something more to climb. I wonder if they will make a solid screen over time?



Peppervine (Nekemias arborea)

Are you doing anything with peppervine?

Purple,

That vine is native, but invasive, and the berries are somewhat poisonous. You'll want to proceed with caution.

Jennifer

Hi & thanks for the warning! I promise we have no plans to eat any of it. It's for the birds, and it is welcome to do whatever it will with the fence. Agree that it is not comparable to a diminutive vine like a Clematis that one would put in a more cultivated spot.

I understand that it is very aggressive. As a gardening term, invasive implies that a plant is exotic to the location under discussion, (following the logic that a native can't invade its' own territory,) as well as aggressive enough to displace a impactful number of natives.

I suppose that, under control, it can be an attractive plant...

It has been very enjoyable, visually for humans, and a very popular place for birds to hang out.

It will cover a fence.

Before:


After

(It will also cover your landscaping)

Lovely, Arlene! I think the pics that go with the words "before" and "after" got switched.

Porkpal, I'm sure it would, like any giant, aggressive vine. There is nothing within 10-15' of the fence where it is growing in my yard, besides stupid "grass."

Good, that allows you to mow all the suckers along with the equally useless grass.

Tiffany - the photos are labelled correctly. Look across the garden and you can see how much more of the neighbor's white house you can see in the second photo. The Limelight hydrangea is to the left of the vine.

TY, Arlene. I'm seeing a vine-covered fence in the "before" pic and a clear shot of the house in the after pic. Do you also see a constant gathering of birds around your peppervine?

Yes, I had the vine removed but even now the birds keep returning to their former feasting spot. I'd never allow it to grow again.

Ooooh, now I get it. TY for sticking with me & explaining! I probably missed something you said up-thread.

purpleinopp said:When a peppervine started growing along this fence about 3 years ago, my husband asked what it was. I told him & we decided it would be a fine addition to our native habitat, and the fence would be a great place for it since it is mowed on all sides.

Are you doing anything with peppervine?

I eat the berries...

Found a really tasty vine recently...
Berries tasted like wild black cherries when I bit into them... swallowing them was like eating mild hot peppers.

I had them everywhere in my last garden... they were there when I got there...
Haven't seen them in the current location...

If you plan to grow them for the birds... what's not to love?
Birds gotta eat.

This is still going well but the bamboo was a bust. I did not last long enough, fell apart. I'll add some new pics soon.

Do you not have trouble with the birds planting pepper vine all over the place?

Not really. Most of my sprouts are grass, cherry laurel, smilax, and oak, occasional mimosa & maple, and some weed that turns "hairy" when it's really hot, and Phyllanthus/chamber bitters.

It's going to be something though. I've never gardened anywhere where unwanted sprouts did not show up.

The promised pic.

I'm glad peppervine can make some people happy - - - I guess...

Yes. : + ) I think it's beautiful and the blooms will provide nectar for tons of butterflies and bees soon.