SOLVED. Sci-Fi about a seductive green vine. [s]

[Kate]

This book was probably from the 1970s or 1980s (I read it in the 1990s), and its hardcover was entirely covered in green vines (from what I remember). It was about an (alien?) plant that grew really fast and completely covered a family's house. The members of the family are totally entranced by the vine, which seems to cast a kind of spell over them (and maybe even speak inside their minds?), until it is almost too late to do anything and they're entirely trapped. Mostly I remember the long descriptions of how the plant made the individual family members feel.

[SBC]

I'm not sure if the plants were seductive, and the book was published in 1997, but could it be Sheri S. Tepper's The Family Tree?

[Kate]

Thanks for the suggestion! I don't think that was it, mostly because the book I remember was very focused on a single family in their house, and Tepper's book sounds like it's got a much wider scope.

[Aerulan]

There's a listopia list for Killer Plants in Horror & Science Fiction Fantasy
If you haven't checked it out already it might be worth a look.

[Kate]

Aerulan wrote: "There's a listopia list for Killer Plants in Horror & Science Fiction Fantasy
If you haven't checked it out already it might be worth a look."
That's a great list, but I don't think the book I'm searching for is on there! It bears some similarities to Flowers of Evil by Robert Charles, but again, that book is set in too many different locations...this alien vine book was set in only one location.

[Rainbowheart]

Was it for adults? I remember a kids' chapter book about a vine that took over a family's entire house. I don't think the vine was evil, though.

[Kate]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Was it for adults? I remember a kids' chapter book about a vine that took over a family's entire house. I don't think the vine was evil, though."

I think it was for adults! The vine didn't seem evil at first, but gradually revealed its true sinister nature...it was weirdly psychological for a book about an invasive species.

[Kate]

I'm pretty sure the cover was intensely bright green, maybe with vines on it? It was a hardback book with a plastic-covered dust jacket. Thanks!

[Paige]

You might want to check this list out:
https://www.thefishinprison.com/botan...

[Kate]

Thanks, that's a great list! I don't think this book I'm remembering is on it, but looks like a lot of other great plant-themed fiction is.

[Robert]

I'm guessing the book Rainbowheart recalls was The Bongleweed, by Helen Cresswell. - "The bongleweed is a weird and wonderful plant that's threatening to take over the village. It's up to Becky and Jason to try and stop the wickedly wild weed before it's too late." - as they say, I'm not sure it would count as seductive.

The Erotic Strangula, by Mark Green might have more of the seductive aspect, but it's probably published a bit too late and doesn't, I think, have the family connection.

[Rainbowheart]

Not sure if that's what I'm thinking of. Maybe I was thinking of Gertie's Green Thumb crossed with another book. I could have sworn there was another kids' novel with plants or vines taking over a house or apartment building.

[Kate]

The Bongleweed!! That's it! It was such a trippy book I didn't even remember that it was apparently written as a kids book. Thanks!