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 can grow up to 30 feet (9 m) long. The leaves are fleshy, heart-shaped, bright green, and can measure up to 5.2 inches (13 cm) long. Wart-like tubers are produced on aerial stems and are key to identifying the plant.
Masses of small, fragrant, cream-colored flowers appear on dependent racemes that can reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length.
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 that fall to the ground. So, all below and above-ground tubers must be removed and disposed of in the garbage.
While young and less than 3.3 feet (1 m) long, lift out the plant, easing out the tuber from the soil at its base. The underground tuber snaps readily, so get all the bits. At this stage, the stem tubers will not have developed.
Beyond this stage, the plant grows very quickly and vigorously, 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. Cutting and gently removing small sections and laying a sheet on the ground below to catch the tubers. By now, the main underground tuber will have enlarged and will require careful digging to get it all. Be aware that the tubers can lie dormant in the soil for many years.
Origin
Anredera cordifolia is native to South America.
Links
- Back to genus Anredera
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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