Winter creeper, also known as Fortune’s spindle—not because it has anything to do with luck, but because the first European to classify it was named Robert Fortune—is a highly invasive shrub/vine which can smother trees to death. It’s everywhere in my neighborhood. In a totally unscientific way, I’d estimate it has infested 1 in 5 trees and for some reason that number goes way up for older maples, 4/5ths of which I’d estimated are wintercreepered.
What does it look like? The distinctive features in winter are that it is 1) an evergreen, 2) has opposite, slightly serrated leaves, 3) has red pointy buds.
It has two forms. A sterile climbing form, concentrated on growing as fast as possible without reproducing. And a flowering phase, which typically occurs higher up the tree, or in shrub form.
This flowering phase may remind you of a native species in the same genus: the Wahoo. See the similarity?
Unfortunately, winter creeper isn’t just an urban invasive. It’s less common in wooded spaces, but can easily crop up in forest openings or damaged areas (see these two previous posts for examples). As far as removal goes, good luck! One author I’ve found recommends ripping it out when the soil is wet, ie spring or fall, as the roots come out more easily1.
recycled paper clips 