A fast-growing vine capable of climbing 70 feet and adding as much as eight inches of new growth in a single day is spreading through Mobile backyards, and local extension experts say residents should learn to spot it before it takes over their landscaping.
The air potato vine, known scientifically as Dioscorea bulbifera, produces distinctive heart-shaped leaves and small potato-like tubers that drop to the ground and root into new plants, allowing a single vine to multiply rapidly across a yard or wooded area. The plant has been listed as one of Florida’s most invasive species since 1993 and has since spread into every county in that state before making its way into coastal Alabama.
Jack LeCroy, an urban regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said he first became familiar with the vine’s rapid spread while working with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension system, where the plant has been a persistent problem for decades. After relocating to Mobile, LeCroy said he began fielding calls from local residents dealing with the same invasive vine in their own backyards.
One of those residents, a Mobile homeowner named JoAnne, reached out to LeCroy after watching the vine spread unchecked through her property. LeCroy said he was able to connect her with a natural, low-cost solution: the air potato leaf beetle, or Lilioceris gressitti, a small insect that feeds almost exclusively on the vine’s foliage. Researchers with the University of Florida have studied the beetle extensively to confirm it targets the invasive vine without threatening other plants.
After ordering the beetles through the Florida program, JoAnne received her shipment by mail about a week later and worked with LeCroy to release them directly onto the vine growing in her yard. Within days, leaves on the vine had become visibly skeletonized, evidence that the beetles were feeding heavily on the plant. LeCroy said the insects will not eliminate an air potato vine infestation entirely, but they can significantly slow its growth and spread, giving property owners a fighting chance against the aggressive plant.
LeCroy said he has noticed the vine’s telltale heart-shaped leaves popping up more frequently as he travels around Mobile, and he is encouraging residents who suspect they have the plant on their property to contact the Mobile County Extension office. Homeowners can call 251-574-8445 to report a possible sighting, and are encouraged to bring in a physical sample or send photos so the plant can be positively identified. Because the vine can spread quickly along fence lines, trees and other structures, catching an infestation early makes it far easier to manage.
Extension officials say the air potato vine is one of several invasive plant species they are tracking across the region, and they are urging South Alabama gardeners to stay alert for unfamiliar, fast-growing vines in their yards. The Mobile County office also offers a range of resources for home gardeners, including a Master Gardener helpline at 1-877-252-4769 and an email address, coastalalabamagardening@gmail.com, where residents can send questions directly to trained volunteers.
Local gardeners looking for more hands-on guidance have several upcoming opportunities to connect with Master Gardener volunteers and extension staff. The Market on the Square, held Saturdays through July from 7:30 a.m. to noon at Cathedral Square, 300 Conti St. in Mobile, features a Master Gardener tent alongside vendors selling local produce, homemade bread, jams, preserves, honey, crafts and live music.
The Mobile County Master Gardeners will also hold their monthly meeting on Thursday, August 1, from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the Jon Archer Agricultural Center, 1070 Schillinger Road N. in Mobile. The free program includes a question-and-answer session with extension horticulture agents and is open to the public.
Additionally, LeCroy will lead a two-part course called “Landscape 101: How to Have a Beautiful Yard” on August 29 and 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., also at the Jon Archer Agricultural Center. The course costs $10 for both sessions, and registration is required by calling 251-574-8445.