Paederia foetida
Skunkvine (Paederia foetida) is a non-native landscape weed indigenous to Eastern and Southern Asia. Skunkvine is a natural area weed, commonly found in landscapes and outdoor areas throughout Florida. Skunkvine is fast-growing and can adapt to a variety of soil conditions, light, and salinity levels.
In the wild, skunkvine is notorious for overgrowth and is known to overtake entire areas of vegetation by creating dense canopies, leading to the death of Native vegetation. Skunkvine has small gray or lilac flowers with oval shaped leaves. The easiest way to identify skunkvine is through smell – simply crush the leaves and sniff! Skunkvine’s name derives from its pungent, foul smell.
This species is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) as a Category 1 invasive in North, Central and South Florida.
- Scientific Name: Paederia foetida
- Common Name: Skunkvine
- Seasonality: Warm
- Soil Type: Wet to dry
- Toxicity: Non-toxic
- Plant Growth: Perennial vine
- Natural Area Weeds: Skunkvine (Paederia foetida)
- UF/IFAS Center for Invasive and Aquatic Plants
- UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas
