Black Swallow-wort brochure — File 206307

A L L A B O U T B L A C K S WA L LO W - W O R T B eginning with shiny green leaves in pairs, purple star-shaped flowers, and grappling spaghetti-like roots, in summer, black swallow-wort becomes armed with seed pods resembling green chili peppers. This invasive vine threatens monarch butterflies and songbirds, and displaces native plant communities vital to insects, birds and other urban wildlife. Known to frequent chain-link fences, it is also found in woodlands, gardens and shrubs throughout Cambridge and Somerville neighbor- hoods—and is spreading fast! Now that you know about it, you’ll probably start to notice it everywhere you go. While it is difficult to dig it out completely because of its extensive roots, pulling green seed pods before they turn brown and open up is one important thing we can do to control this invader. The seed pods become recognizable in June. S E E D P O D S Pull when pods are still slim, smooth and green— before they open W H AT C A N YO U D O T O H E L P ? To prevent seeds inside pods from escaping and spreading to new areas: Pick the pods, preferably before they turn brown, open up, and release seeds. Put them in a tightly closed bag, and dispose of them in the trash. Do not put pods into yard waste bags or in your compost! If you find black swallow-wort on your own prop- erty: Dig up the plant with its entire root system, put it in a tightly closed bag, and dispose of it in the trash. Do not put into yard waste bags or in your compost! The roots will re-sprout, and seeds are not destroyed in composting operations. I D E N T I F Y I N G B L A C K S WA L LO W - W O R T L E AV E S Shiny, green, come in pairs, quickly wind- ing around fences and shrubs F LO W E R S Small, purple, star-shaped R O O T S White and fleshy tenta- cles that break off easily M AT U R E S E E D P O D S Be careful pulling brown, papery pods that have al- ready opened up—mature seeds easily escape!

JOIN THE POD PATROL! Pluck pods in your own neighborhood, and share this information with your neighbors! For more information: https://monarchjointventure.org/images/uploads/ documents/Swallowwort_flyer.pdf http://www2.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_ Content/documents/blackSwallowwort.pdf http://www.grownativemass.org/whatareinvasive- plants VA N Q U I S H YO U R V I N E S ! ! Did you know— The original Pod Patrol was created by the City of Cambridge! Check them out: CambridgeMA.gov/podpatrol or Facebook.com/CambridgePodPatrol P OD PATROL Spread the Word...Not the Weed U N W A N T E D By farmers, gardeners, birds, butterflies, and native plants: Black Swallow-wort Brought to you by the Somerville Garden Club. For more information, go to www.somervillegarden- club.org