Other common names: Sweet pea vine, pea vine.
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Why it is a pest plant
Mile-a-minute (Dipogon lignosus) is an evergreen fast growing vine. It smothers and kills most plants from ground level to medium canopy and prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings. It thrives in bare sites and increases nitrogen in impoverished soil types,potentially changing the species that can grow there.
It is likely to invade forest margins, coastlines, cliffs, shrublands, rocky and limestone areas.
Seeds drop near parent plants, but spread of mile-aminute occurs most often from dumped vegetation or infested soil. Originally from South Africa, it grows in only a few known locations in the Waikato region.
How to recognise this pest plant
Mile-a-minute can be recognised by its pea-like flowers of purple, red, pink and white shadings. Flowering occurs over a long period - July to January.
Identifying features
- Flowers are pea-like, 1-1.5 cm long, and are followed by boat-shaped seed pods that are 3-4 cm long.
- Leaves consist of three triangular/heart-shaped leeaflets measuring about 2.5-5.5cm long.
- Stems are moderately hairy and woody towards their base.
Responsibility for control
Environment Waikato is responsible for controlling this plant. Environment Waikato's Regional Pest Management Strategy declares mile-a-minute a total control pest plant for the entire Waikato region.
Mile-a-minute is banned from sale, circulation, distribution and commercial display.
How to control mile-a-minute
Do not attempt to control mile-a-minute yourself.
If you see this pest plant on your property, call 0800 BIOSECURITY (0800 246 732) to report it to your local biosecurity pest plant contractor.
More information
For further advice contact your nearest biosecurity pest plant contractor on 0800 BIOSECURITY (0800 246 732).
For more information on what we do phone Environment Waikato's freephone 0800 800 401.
For more information on pest plants check out the Weedbusters website.
Related publications
View our Waikato Regional Pest Management Strategy (RPMS).
Pick up, download (730 kb, 104 seconds to download, 56k modem) or order 'What makes a pest a pest? - A guide to Waikato's pest management future' for free from our offices.
Pick up or order 'Plant me instead - Plants to use in place of common pest plants' for free from our offices.
Pick up or order the 'National Pest Plant Accord Manual' for $10 from our offices, or view it online for free.
Disclaimer
Althought this content has been prepared in good faith from a number of sources believed to be reliable, Environment Waikato does not give any guarantee that all information contained is accurate or complete, or that advice given will be appropriate in all circumstances.