Family: Actinidiaceae

Actinidia polygama (cat-powder, silvervine) is a deciduous climbing vine native to the mountainous regions of Japan, Korea, and China. It grows at mid-elevations and is notable for its silver-tinged leaves, which turn fully green during fruiting. The plant produces clusters of small white flowers in early summer and orange to yellow-red, egg-shaped fruits that ripen in the fall. Hardy to very cold temperatures, silvervine thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can grow in both partial shade and full sun, making it a versatile garden vine with ornamental and fruiting value.

Silvervine is most famous for its strong effect on domestic cats. When dried and ground into powder, especially from fruit galls, it induces euphoric behaviors such as rolling, rubbing, drooling, and licking. A greater proportion of cats respond to silvervine than to catnip, including many that show no reaction to catnip at all. Beyond its use as feline enrichment, silvervine has also been valued in traditional East Asian medicine and cuisine, though these uses are secondary to its role as a potent natural stimulant for cats. Although A. polygama is grown outside its native range, it appears limited to cultivated settings with no confirmed naturalized populations to date.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability
  
• Tolerates wide range of soil types
  
• Climbing, smothering growth habit
  
• Congeneric is a known weed
  
• Produces viable seeds
  
• Reaches maturity in 2 years
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized or weedy elsewhere
  
• Not toxic to humans or animals
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Does not form dense thickets
  
• Not self-fertile (requires pollinator)
  
• No persistent soil seed bank
  
• No vegetative spread
  
• Not accidentally dispersed by wind, water, or contamination