Coral Vine Antigonon leptopus

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.