Chain of Love Antigonon leptopus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Antigonon cordatum
- Corculum leptopus
- Polygonum cirrhosum
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-TIG-oh-non LEP-toh-puss
- Description
-
The Coral Vine is a rapidly growing, tropical climbing vine with tuberous roots. The vine is evergreen in tropical climates but deciduous in cooler climates. The leaves are pale green and somewhat arrow-shaped. The flowers are coral-pink clusters that bloom from spring to fall. The flowers may also be red or white depending on the cultivar. The tendrils and the vining habit help the plant to attach itself to arbors, trellises, fences, or walls. This fast-growing vine may grow 8-10 feet in a season. The Coral Vine is classified as a weed in the United States because of its aggressive growth. It has been classified as invasive species in Florida.
The Coral Vine is a native of Mexico and Central America. It is typically found along roadsides, coastal cliffs, coastal forests, disturbed areas, and tropical and subtropical areas. The vine can grow up to 40 feet high in its native habitats and climbs up into the canopy of trees and spreads rapidly into the forests. It is able to survive in arid conditions.
The genus name, Antigonon, is derived from the Greek word anti meaning "in place of" and polygonum meaning a "member of the Knotweed family." Poly references "many," and gonu means "joint."
The Coral Vine prefers warm temperatures and high precipitation. It will thrive in almost any type of soil. In warm climates, the vine grows and flowers year-round. The vine is deciduous in USDA Zone 8. The plant is cold-sensitive but quickly grows back from cold damage.
The Coral Vine is pollinated by bees and butterflies. The vine produces an abundance of seeds. The seeds are dispersed by birds and water. The plant also reproduces by stems, tubers, and plant fragments.
If you are considering planting the Coral Vine, it will be important to monitor and control the plant's spread. The risk of introduction to the landscape may be very high in some areas. In some tropical and subtropical regions, the plant was intended as ornamental, but it quickly escaped the garden and rapidly spread to the forest and enveloped the trees.
Due to the Coral Vines' invasive nature, it may be best to consider other native climbing vines such as Carolina Jasmine, Coral Honeysuckle, or Trumpet Flower.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Problems: The vine has no serious pests or diseases. Caterpillars may eat the foliage.
Invasiveness: The Coral Vine is characterized as an aggressive weed in Micronesia, Northern Australia, and the United States. In Florida, the vine is listed as a Category II Invasive Exotic by Florida's Exotic Pest Council. Coral Vine is also included in the Global Compendium of Weeds and was classified as the most aggressive weed in the tropics. It has been classified as invasive in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Cuba, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles, Hawaii, Guam, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
White flowers, not cold hardy - 'Baja Red'
Hot rose pink to red flowers--color varies from seed
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Baja Red'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Album'
White flowers, not cold hardy - 'Baja Red'
Hot rose pink to red flowers--color varies from seed
- 'Album'
- 'Album', 'Baja Red'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Antigonon
- Species:
- leptopus
- Family:
- Polygonaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The tubers are edible.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico to Central America
- Distribution:
- Native: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, and Nicaragua; Introduced: Argentina Northwest, Aruba, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Cambodia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Galapagos, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Mozambique, Netherlands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Somalia, Southwest Caribbean, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, and the US: FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX,
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds, raccoons, and pigs eat the seeds and fruits. Pollinators include bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and thrips.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Tolerant of hot climates and poor soils.
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- This plant produces edible tubers.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Cascading
- Climbing
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are inconspicuous achenes, cone or triangular, and measure 8-12 mm long and 4-7 mm wide. The fruit cover is shiny, dry, and hard. The Coral Vine is a prolific seed producer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are axillary racemes and borne on panicles. Depending on the cultivar, the blooms may be bright coral pink, white, or red. They bloom from spring to fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The pale green leaves are alternate, ovate, heart-shaped, and sometimes triangular. The leaves measure about 4 inches long. There are fine hairs along the leaf veins. The vines are evergreen in Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, the vines lose their leaves during the winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are angled and reddish-brown. There are axillary tendrils.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy