Sprawling over and clinging to and clambering up other plants to a height of up to 2 m in wet thickets, cedar swamps, borders of rivers and streams, marshes and wet meadows; clearings and disturbed moist ground.

A rough, clambering plant, climbing by retrorse prickle hairs. Rather variable and some individuals are smoother than others. Rarely the ovaries and fruit are partly covered with very short appressed spicules (sometimes ± hooked).