• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  • Texas A&M College of Agrculture and Life Sciences
A Diagnostics Tool for Pond Plants and Algae
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Identify a Plant
  • FAQs
    • FAQs List
    • Do I need a permit?
    • Glossary
  • AquaExtension Events & Learning
  • Videos
  • Get Help

Dodder

Cuscuta spp.

dodder with seeds
dodder along bank
dodder harvested

What is Dodder?

Physical Characteristics

Flowers:

  • Numerous
  • White, pong or yellowish in color
  • Small
  • 0.08-0.16 inches long
  • Can be borne in tight balls or in a loose cluster

Fruit:

  • About 1/8th inch in diameter
  • Papery thin walls

Seeds:

  • 1-4 seeds per fruit
  • Yellow to brown/black in color
  • Rough surface
  • One round & two flat sides
  • Seeds grow if host is present
  • If no host present, seeds remain dormant for up to 5 years

Stem:

  • Twining
  • Yellow, orange or green in color
  • Sometimes tinged with purple or red
  • Thin
  • Thread-like
  • Relatively stout
  • Grow upward until it reaches its host
  • Coils around the stem of the host
  • If food source is present, secondary root-like branches form
  • Once root-like branches form, the base shrivels, so there is no soil connection

Other names include love vine, strangleweed, devil’s-guts, goldthread, pull-down, devil’s-ringlet, hellbine, devil’s-hair, and hailweed.

Where Does it Grow?


USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

Dodder it can be found growing on other plants.

Is it Invasive?

Although some species of dodder are native, it can be a very aggressive invader. Dodder grows as a parasite on various kinds of wild and cultivated plants, and is especially destructive to alfalfa, lespedeza, flax, clover and potatoes.

Pros and Cons of Dodder

Dodder is a parasitic plant, and the seeds are difficult to remove from desired crop seed.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

AquaExtension Newsletter

Receive updates on upcoming webinars and newly published materials.

Sign Up Now

Newsletter Archive

Upcoming Events

Jan 21
Featured January 21 @ 6:00 pm - October 21 @ 7:30 pm CST

2025 Aquatic Webinar Series Bundle

Aug 19
Featured 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm CDT

Pond Management Myth Busting 102: Aquatic Vegetation Management Webinar

View Calendar

Search for a type of plant

Hire a Professional Contact Your Ag & Natural Resource Agent Aquatic Plant Nurseries Aquatic Herbicide Tables
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Member

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Click to view full permission and citation information

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veteran's Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information