A guide to nonnative invasive plants inventoried in the north by ...

Cynanchum rossicum
(Syn.: Vincetoxicum hirundinaria)
European swallow-wort CYRO8
Pale swallow-wort
Form: Perennial, twining, herbaceous vine up to 6½ ft (2 m)
long.
Leaves: Oval shaped with pointed tips, 3-4 in. (7-10 cm) long
by 2-3 in. (5-7 cm) wide, occurring in pairs along the stem.
Flowers/fruit: Few-flowered clusters axillary to leaves; small,
5-petaled, star shaped, creamy pink to pale maroon; about ¼
in. (0.6 cm) across. Milkweed-like fruits are nearly identical to
black swallow-wort.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, edges of woods, rocky areas.
Other distinguishing features/notes: Also known as
Vincetoxicum hirundinaria.
Similar species: Black swallow-wort (Cynanchum louiseae)
has purple to purplish black flowers and does not have
rhizomes. Honeyvine (Cynanchum leave), a native species,
has white flowers; leaves have distinct heart-shaped
bases and do not have shiny surfaces. The twining habit
and opposite, smooth leaves with their somewhat shiny or
reflective quality distinguish black swallow-wort from other
native and introduced species in the northeastern quarter of
the U.S. and adjacent Canada.
Notes