Dodders are parasitic plants in the morning glory family. Dodders do not have chlorophyll and must obtain all of their nutrients, water, and carbohydrates by attaching themselves to other green plants. The strands drape themselves over the plant.

These plants have string-like vining stems that look to be leafless. They do have leaves but they are tiny scales. The flowers are small, bell-shaped, and range from yellow to white. They emerge in clusters from summer to fall. Each flower produces one to four seeds. Dodder produces small, pea-like fruit.

Control can be difficult.

Control on woody ornamentals in the home garden is to simply prune out the parasitized branches. In severe infestations, gardeners sometimes must remove the entire infected plants before dodder goes to seed.