Consulta Plantas

Care of the climbing plant Muehlenbeckia complexa or Maidenhair vine

The genus Muehlenbeckia, family Polygonaceae, comprises 20 species of herbaceous plants native to South America, Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Some species are: Muehlenbeckia complexa, Muehlenbeckia hastulata, Muehlenbeckia astonii, Muehlenbeckia florulenta.

Common names: Maidenhair vine, Necklace vine, Australian ivy, Wire vine, Scrambling Pohuehue, Maidenhair creeper, Scrub pohuehue. This species is native to New Zealand.

They are semi-perennial herbaceous climbing or crawling plants with purple sarmentous stems that reach 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length. The abundant leaves are small, round in shape and bright green. The flowers are yellowish-white but very small. They bloom during the second half of summer.

These fast-growing plants are used to cover slopes, to cover walls and pergolas (they need supports) and in hanging pots on terraces and in brightly lit interiors. They are ideal for coastal gardens due to their resistance to wind and salinity.

Muehlenbeckia complexa prefers full sun exposure but also grows in semi-shade. They resist frosts down to -10 ºC (14 ºF); they can lose their leaves in the cold and sprout again in spring.

They can grow in poor, sandy soils but prefer that they contain organic matter and be well drained.

Water regularly (especially in summer) waiting for the substrate to dry; they do not resist flooding but they do resist several days of drought.

Fertilize with compost or manure in early spring.

Prune in late winter to control growth as they tend to become invasive plants.

They are resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases.

They are propagated from seeds sown in spring.

Images of the climbing plant Muehlenbeckia complexa or Maidenhair vine