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Red bark underground shrub #765385

Asked August 02, 2021, 8:49 PM EDT

Hi, I asked before and we thought it was a dogwood... but now I have determined its actually an underground vine that is sending shoots up. They cannot be controlled even by digging out or herbicide, I believe they have a main plant in my yard but want to determine which it is, it appears to be the one that looks like it but that appears to grow above ground not vine underground.... looking to ID the small plant.

Anoka County Minnesota

Expert Response

No need to respond.... after looking further and finding the larger plant 20ft from.the little ones it appears to be dogwood that grows with rhizomes underground.

On Mon, Aug 2, 2021, 7:49 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

Dear anthonya927,

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YOUR QUESTION #0035316:

Red bark underground shrub

Hi, I asked before and we thought it was a dogwood... but now I have determined its actually an underground vine that is sending shoots up. They cannot be controlled even by digging out or herbicide, I believe they have a main plant in my yard but want to determine which it is, it appears to be the one that looks like it but that appears to grow above ground not vine underground.... looking to ID the small plant.

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The Question Asker Replied August 02, 2021, 9:58 PM EDT

i have no doubt you have a dogwood (they are extraordinarily common) but you seem to be asking me about two plants here.  

The vine with the large palm shape leaves in the third picture and bottom of the second picture is the riverbank grape.   https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/riverbank-grape

The plant with the narrow leaves in the first picture and in the top two-thirds of the second picture is a willow of some kind. We are working to identify it.

Your property appears to be adjacent to or draining to a wetland.  The state has laws regulating the application of many herbicides or pesticides in water. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wetlands/regulations.html

In addition, you live in the Anoka Soil and Water Conservation District.  https://www.anokaswcd.org/  I urge you to contact them before you apply any herbicides or pesticides or fertilizers.

Best to you

Steve, 
The plant is growing from rhizomes coming from trees. Half way up these thin trees they have many shoots that look exactly like the plant.   Are their versions of dogwood that form very small trunked trees and send out rhizomes?

On Tue, Aug 3, 2021, 9:11 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied August 03, 2021, 1:33 PM EDT

Thank you for writing back.
This is a picture of redtwig dogwood leaf.  
The leaf on the red stemmed first picture is a willow leaf.

The leaf on the climbing vine that dominates picture 3 is a riverbank grape leaf.

Note that if has a reddish vine but is a totally different leaf and plant the red twig dogwood or a red stem willow. https://www.friendsofthewildflowergarden.org/pages/plants/wildgrape.html

Hi,
I agree with the grapes, that makes sense.
If the other tree is a type of willow based on the leaves it has red stems. It seems to be shooting out these through my yard on rhizomes underground.  Do willows send out shoots like that?  I have about 30 and they form a pretty straight line from the area of this tree out 25ft.

On Tue, Aug 3, 2021, 5:04 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied August 03, 2021, 6:23 PM EDT

Willows are known for having very shallow roots that spread widely and can create off shoot plants.  https://sciencing.com/willow-tree-reproduction-facts-13428873.html

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