This Invasive Plant Can Grow 6 Inches a Day—and It’s Spreading in Michigan

It sounds like something straight out of a horror movie, but instead of attacking humans, mile-a-minute weed smothers trees, shrubs, and other native plants.

The fast-growing invasive vine has now been confirmed in another Michigan county.

State officials say it was found on private property in Concord Township in Jackson County after a landowner reported it.

According to MLive, the Jackson County discovery isn't far from another known infestation in Calhoun County, where the plant first showed up in Michigan back in 2020.

Why Is Mile-a-Minute Weed Such a Problem?

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This thing grows like crazy. Mile-a-minute weed can shoot up to six inches a day and reach around 25 feet in less than two months. It doesn't just grow, either—it climbs over trees, shrubs, and other plants until it eventually smothers them.

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As if it wasn't bad enough that it grows so fast, it also spreads pretty easily. Birds and other wildlife eat the plant's small blue berries and carry the seeds to new areas. Even worse, those seeds can stay in the soil for up to six years.

How Is Michigan Trying to Stop Mile-a-Minute Weed?

The good news is crews are already on it. They've treated the Jackson County site with herbicide and will keep monitoring the area. They're also testing a tiny beetle in neighboring Calhoun County that feeds on mile-a-minute weed, hoping it can help keep the plant under control naturally.

Look, this isn't anything to panic over. It's not taking over the state or anything, as it's only been found in two Michigan counties. But it's worth paying attention to because the faster officials can find it, the better chance they have of stopping it from spreading.

If you think you've spotted mile-a-minute weed, you can report it through Michigan's invasive species program so experts can check it out.