Skunk vine (Paederia foetida)

Skunk vine is fast-growing, foul-smelling vine with white and purplish-red flowers. It spreads quickly and smothers native plants.

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How does this weed affect you?

Skunk vine is a fast-growing vine that:

• smothers and outcompetes other plants including natives
• creates dense shade that kills understorey plants
• becomes very heavy when growing up other plants and causes branches to fall
• grows in thick curtains which can restrict access for people and animals
• increases fuel loads and fire risks.

What does it look like?

Skunk vine is a twining perennial vine. It can smother the ground and climb over other plants and structures. Plants may be evergreen or deciduous.

Leaves are:

• green to dark green on top and sparsely covered in bristly hairs
• lighter green underneath, veins lined with transparent, bristly hairs
• fringed with sharp stiff hairs along the edges
• 3–14 cm long and 2–5 cm wide
• rounded or heart-shaped at the base and pointed at the tip
• soft
• smell foul when crushed
• on hairy stalks up to 2–5 cm long
• opposite each other along the stem or sometimes in whorls of 3 or 4.

Flowers are:

• white to cream outside and dark purplish red inside
• funnel-shaped with 4 or 5 lobes
• 7–11 mm long
• covered in soft hairs on the outside

Fruit are:

• a round capsule with one or two seeds
• light brown to yellow or reddish-brown when ripe
• up to 6 mm in diameter
• glossy
• partially covered by papery flower parts that drop off when the fruit are old.

Seeds are:

• black, often with white dots
• roundish
• up to 5.5 mm long
• often covered with needle-shaped crystals.

Stems are:

• woody at the base
• light green and slender further up the stem
• up to 10 m long
• creeping, climbing and/or twining.

Where is it found?

In NSW, skunk vine has been found in several locations in the Greater Sydney region.

It is native to East Asia and South-East Asia.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Skunk vine tolerates a wide variety of climates from tropical to temperate. Plants are most common in sunny, disturbed sites, but can tolerate shade. They tolerate dry and wet conditions including flooded areas. Skunk vine grows in a range of soil types including poor leached soils, very acidic soils and saline conditions.

It has been found growing:

• in gardens and parks
• in urban bushland
• in sugar cane crops
• along roadsides
• over powerlines
• in pastures.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Skunk vine during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By plant parts

Stem fragments can root at the nodes. These may be spread by people dumping garden waste, vehicles or machinery.

By seeds

Seed production is variable, and viability is low for seeds over two years old. Seeds are spread by:

• wind, though only short distances 
• contaminated vehicles and machinery.

References

Gucker, Corey L. 2009. Paederia foetida. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Retrieved 13/06/2024 from: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/vine/paefoe/all.html

Jacono, C. (2015). CABI datasheet: Paederia foetida (skunk vine). Retrieved 13/06/2024 from Paederia foetida (skunkvine) | CABI Compendium (cabidigitallibrary.org)

Langeland, K. A., Stocker, R. K., & Brazis, D. M. (2013). Natural Area Weeds: Skunkvine (Paederia foetida): SSAGR80/WG208, 2/2013. EDIS, 2013(2).

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 17 June 2024 from:https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Paederia~foetida

Pratt, P.D., Pemberton, R.W. 2004. Skunk vine (Paederia foetida). Biological Control of Weeds in the United States. Retrieved 13/06/2024 from https://www.invasive.org/biocontrol/pdf/27SkunkVine.pdf

More information

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Control

Skunk vine’s extensive network of stems, make it difficult to control. Control may need to be repeated to be successful. Combining several control options may be the most effective way to kill skunk vine.

Physical removal

Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. This is easiest when soil is damp and loose. Remove as much of the roots as possible and do not leave any stems in contact with the soil as they will regrow. Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of this weed.

Fire

Plants are sensitive to fire and above ground growth will die off when burnt but the plant can regrow. Follow up work will be needed to treat any plants that re-sprout.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants, cover all the foliage.

When spraying skunk vine that is smothering native or other desirable plants:

• cut the stems of skunk vine at waist height
• leave upper parts to die
• move lower intact stems away from native plants and spray these stems and leaves.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns can be used for dense infestations that are difficult to reach. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets that allow plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift. Spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide onto the weeds. It is not necessary to cover all the foliage.

Cut scrape and paint

Cut the stem and leave the upper parts of the vine to die. Scrape the stems lightly and apply herbicide to the cut and scraped sections as soon as possible. If plants have produced seeds, follow up by checking site regularly.

Wipe on to leaves

This method is only practical for small plants with not many leaves. It can be useful if plants cannot be pulled out and are close to desirable vegetation.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 200 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut scrape and paint
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Greater Sydney	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
North Coast	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025