Cuscuta europaea aka European Dodder

Cuscuta europaea is an annual parasitic vine in the bindweed family, Convolvulaceae. Its common names include greater dodder and European dodder. Some call it strangle tare or strangle weed. Its native range spans temperate Eurasia and reaches northern India. It is also native to Britain and Ireland. In China, it grows in open grassland, beside streams, and on hills. These sites lie at 2,625–10,170 feet [800–3,100 metres] above sea level.

The vine reaches about 3–7 feet [1–2 metres] in height. Its spread extends across the plants that support it. Thin, threadlike stems have an orange-yellow colour. It has tiny scales rather than normal leaves. As a holoparasite, it depends on a host plant for nourishment. Hosts include nettles, willowherbs, and hops. Its climbing form follows the growth of these hosts. It reaches maturity within one year.

Small flowers form in clusters from July to September. They have a bell shape and a faint scent. Their colour ranges from creamy white to pale pink. The plant spreads mainly through seed. Seeds can lie dormant in soil for several years. New seedlings must find a host soon after they sprout. Without one, they die. This need for a host shapes where the vine can grow.

It grows best in damp, sunny places with nutrient-rich conditions. The RHS also lists partial shade as suitable. It accepts chalk, clay, loam, and sand. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. The RHS lists poorly drained ground among its growing conditions. It gives the species a UK hardiness rating of H7. This rating covers the coldest European continental climates. The plant needs no pruning and has few reported pest or disease problems.

Its parasitic growth gives it ecological interest, but limits its garden value. The RHS lists wildlife gardens as a possible setting. Yet it advises against garden use because the vine can harm hosts. Plants For A Future also flags its weed potential. That source records no known edible uses or other non-medicinal uses. It reports no known hazards, which does not establish that eating it is safe. The whole plant has a recorded role in Tibetan medicine. Traditional uses include treatments for urinary complaints and pain in the limbs. These records describe medicinal practice, not proof of safety or benefit.