European Swallow-wort — better and perhaps more accurately known as Dog-strangling Vine — is considered an invasive species in Ontario. With its innocuous greenery, this perennial herb sneaks up on native plants and twists its stems around them like a python crushing its prey.

Whenever Donna Spreitzer sees it, she weeds it out.

“I will step into gardens in my neighborhood and snip it out,” says Donna. “I don’t think most people know what it is, or that it is invasive. I am quite horrified at how the Don Valley is full of it.” She recommends putting the weeds in garbage, not compost, to ensure seeds do not spread.

The vines can grow up to six feet long and will use other plants as structural support, literally choking out the competition. The plant may have been brought to North America originally as an ornamental plant.

Donna, who is the Executive Director of a busy daycare in Toronto, also wears the cap of the Stranger Wrangler, a guerrilla gardener taking action to protect native species. “I know that pulling the vine won’t make it go away but at least it will stop it from going to seed and spreading.”

The Dog-strangling Vine is indeed prolific, with its multi-embryo seed pods. I found some twisting around my red currant bush recently and quickly pulled out the invading plant’s stems and pods.

Donna and her husband Scott are veteran gardeners in both city and country. East of Toronto, they operate a small farm growing crops and vegetables. Donna has been known to haul a pick-up truck full of home-grown pumpkins to give away to neighbourhood families at Halloween.

Donna is the third winner of the Guerrilla Garden Challenge. She will receive a copy of my sweet story: “The Tiny Gardens that could…. A tale of two guerrilla gardeners in the heart of the big city.” Plus she gets her pick of a plant from my private collection.

Congrats Donna! Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your story!

Donna in the Don Valley