In the third photo you can see how many of these are growing in my backyard’s st Augustine grass. I’m curious what it is. My fear is that theyre basically sprouting from giant underground tree roots (that may be approaching my foundation). I don’t know if that’s a thing that happens but they are all sort of under the canopy of a tree (apologies for not getting a picture of it). We also have a lot of squirrels and they bury a lot of acorn-looking things from a neighbors tree. Could these be sprouts from acorns? Thanks for any help!

Last note- they’re pretty difficult to pull up from below the surface. The first pic is what it looks like when I get one from deep down though.

by Various-Carrot-349

10 Comments

  1. Various-Carrot-349

    Can’t figure out how to edit to add I’m in central Texas

  2. No_One7894

    No, they’re not oak saplings. It’s a native vine trying desperately to grow in its habitat. Smilax, probably bona nox

  3. iliketrains250

    A weed is simply a plant in an unwanted location. This plant looks like smilax

  4. Various-Carrot-349

    Thank you kind strangers! I just looked it up and saw a monster of a root system from one of these that was dug up. Holy heck.

  5. Ok_Yogurt591

    Did you plant it? Do you want it growing there? If your answer to both is ‘no’ then it is a weed, if it is yes to either ,it is not a weed.

  6. NanADsutton

    People are saying Smilax but I think this is actually snailseed (Nephroia carolina). It spreads via runners and is thornless

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