Fiveangled Dodder: The Native Parasitic Plant You Don’t Want in Your Garden
Meet fiveangled dodder (Cuscuta pentagona), one of nature’s most fascinating yet troublesome native plants. While this species is indigenous to most of North America, it’s definitely not something you’d want to invite into your carefully curated garden space. Let’s explore what makes this plant so unique—and why you should probably keep your distance.
What Exactly Is Fiveangled Dodder?
Fiveangled dodder is a parasitic annual plant that looks more like orange spaghetti than a traditional plant. It belongs to the morning glory family but has evolved to live a very different lifestyle. Instead of growing its own roots and leaves like most plants, this crafty species wraps itself around other plants and literally sucks the life out of them.
The plant appears as thin, thread-like orange to yellow stems that spiral around host plants. During summer, it produces small clusters of tiny white flowers that are actually quite pretty—if you can get past the fact that the plant is basically a botanical vampire.
Where You’ll Find This Native Wanderer
Fiveangled dodder has an impressive native range, naturally occurring throughout most of the United States and Canada. You can find it from British Columbia to Newfoundland, and from coast to coast in the lower 48 states. It’s also native to Puerto Rico and Navassa Island, though it has been introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands where it’s considered non-native.
The plant grows in a wide variety of habitats, from prairies and fields to disturbed areas and unfortunately, gardens and agricultural lands.
Why You Don’t Want to Plant Fiveangled Dodder
Here’s the thing about dodder—it’s a parasitic plant, which means it literally lives off other plants. While it may be native, that doesn’t make it garden-friendly. Here’s why you should avoid planting it:
- It kills host plants: Dodder wraps around other plants and penetrates their stems to steal nutrients and water
- It spreads rapidly: Once established, it can quickly cover large areas and multiple plants
- It’s hard to control: The thin stems can be difficult to remove completely
- It reduces garden productivity: Your beautiful flowers, vegetables, and shrubs will suffer
Growing Conditions (If You Must Know)
Fiveangled dodder is remarkably adaptable, which is part of what makes it so successful—and problematic. It thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3-10, tolerating a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The plant doesn’t need soil in the traditional sense since it’s parasitic, but it does need host plants to survive.
It typically emerges in late spring to early summer and completes its life cycle by fall, producing seeds that can remain viable in the soil for several years.
What to Do If You Find It
If you discover fiveangled dodder in your garden, act quickly:
- Remove the entire plant, including any parts wrapped around host plants
- Dispose of it in the trash, not your compost pile
- Check the area regularly for new growth
- Consider the health of affected host plants, which may need extra care to recover
Better Native Alternatives
If you’re looking to support native plants in your garden, there are countless better options than fiveangled dodder. Consider native wildflowers, grasses, or shrubs that will actually enhance your landscape rather than parasitize it. Your local native plant society can provide excellent recommendations for your specific region.
The Bottom Line
While fiveangled dodder is an interesting example of nature’s ingenuity and is indeed native to North America, it’s not a plant for gardens. Its parasitic lifestyle makes it more of a pest than a desirable addition to your landscape. Appreciate it for its ecological role in wild spaces, but keep it out of your cultivated areas. Your other plants will thank you!
Remember, being native doesn’t always mean being garden-appropriate. Sometimes the best way to support native ecosystems is to choose the right native plants for the right places—and dodder’s place isn’t in your flower bed.
