Scientific Name
Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis
Common Name(s)
Madeira Vine, Mignonette Vine
Synonym(s)
Boussingaultia cordifolia, Boussingaultia cordata, Boussingaultia gracilis
Scientific Classification
Family: Basellaceae
Genus: Anredera
Description
Anredera cordifolia is a fast-growing succulent climber with fleshy rhizomes and stems that support themselves by twining around the thin branches of other plants. The stems grow up to 30 feet (9 m) long. Leaves are fleshy, heart-shaped, bright green, and up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long. Wart-like tubers are produced on aerial stems and are a key to identifying the plant. Masses of small fragrant cream-colored flowers are produced on dependent, up to 12 inches (30 cm) long racemes.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Madeira Vine is winter hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 9-11, where this vine is easily grown in humusy, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. However, this is a subtropical vine that only tolerates brief instances of light frost.
Control is easy if caught early. Each plant sprouts from a shallow underground tuber and regrows from this or the easily broken off stem tubers which fall to the ground. So all below and above-ground tubers need to be removed and disposed of in the garbage.
While young and less than 3.3 feet (1 m) long, simply lift out the plant, easing out the tuber from the soil at its base. The underground tuber snaps readily, so be sure to get all bits. At this stage, the stem tubers will not have developed.
Beyond this stage, the plant is very quick growing and vigorous, with stem tubers growing rapidly. Once it has taken off like this, pulling the vine down from trees will knock its tubers to the ground where they will grow, so care must be taken.
See more at How to Grow and Care for a Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia).
Origin
This species is native to South America.
Links
- Back to genus Anredera
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
