Maroon Carolina Milkvine Matelea carolinensis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Gonolobus carolinensis
- Odontostephana carolinensis
- Vincetoxicum carolinense
- Vincetoxicum hirsutum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ma-TEL-ee-uh kair-oh-lin-EN-sis
- Description
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This native vine is in the dogbane family. They are herbaceous, twining vines with broad, opposite, ovate (often heart-shaped) leaves with maroon flowers. In Central North Carolina these native perennials are often found in power lines, at the edge of woodlands, and climbing fences along roadways.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Matelea
- Species:
- carolinensis
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Maryland to Texas
- Distribution:
- Open deciduous woods, stream banks in SE USA, AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
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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)
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Cupped star-shaped 5 petaled flowers are a maroon purple-brown color clustered in groups of 5-10 on axillary cymes on long stalks.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Twining vine with milky sap; 2-4 in. heart-shaped short-hairy leaves acuminate, cordate with rounded basal sinus.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
