Scientific: Antigonon leptopus
Common: coral vine, Mexican creeper, queen's wreath, confederate vine, chain-of-love
Family: Polygonaceae
Origin: Mexico
Invasive alert: Coral vine is listed as a Category II invasive species in humid and tropical ecosystems around the world such as found in Florida or Hawaii.
Pronounciation: An-TIG-o-non lep-TOE-pus
Hardiness zones
Sunset 12-24 (can experience frost and freeze injury in zone 12)
USDA 8-11 (can experienced frost and freeze injury in zone 8)
Landscape Use: Green or living walls, classic wall or fence cover, accent vine, habitat gardens.
Form & Character: Twining and spreading, tender, innocent, wispy, delicate, yet devious and deceptively aggressive.
Growth Habit: Mostly evergreen, herbaceous perennial vine, climbing and twining (produces tendrils for attachment) with an aggressive trailing habit to at least 30 feet.
Foliage/Texture: Foliage is medium green, small, cordate shaped with subtle marginal serrations; medium texture.
Flowers & Fruits: Clusters of small, delicate pink, red, or rarely white flowers arranged in panicles, flowers STRONGLY attract bees; fruits are papery sheaths bearing black seeds, not attractive.
Seasonal Color: Pink flowers mostly during late summer and fall.
Temperature: Tolerant of most microclimates in Phoenix, but struggles when summer temperatures exceed 115oF and is freeze intolerant.
Light: Partial to full sun. Avoid reflected western exposures.
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: In Phoenix, regular and mostly copious supplemental waterings are necessary for maintaining vigor.
Pruning: Head back (lightly or extensively as needed) to control spread.
Propagation: Seeds or root half-ripe cuttings in the summer.
Disease and Pests: None
Additional comments: In the Phoenix area, coral vine is a nice, tender vine for subtle floral accent (think pink) in oasis and mesic settings. Coral vine has tuberous roots that are reported to be edible when properly prepared (though by who, I haven't a clue).
