Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) belongs to the family Polygonaceae is an exuberant grower, covering a farm or fence quickly and very effectively. This plant is thus often used for supports. Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) care and propagation are as follows.
It is a small-leaved, divaricating shrub. This plant is a very easy growing plant and works very well as a ground cover that is why this plant is also known as mattress vine.
This plant is originated or a native of New Zealand that grows both as a shrub and by winding around other plants (1).
Its diminutive leaves and wiry stem give it an airy look to any planter.
Common name
The common name of Muehlenbeckia complexa are
Maidenhair Vine
Angel vine
Mattress vine
Wiggy bush
Wire vine
Botanical description
Stem
It is slender, creeps or twine over the plant or rocks or it can clime upon itself without support thus forming a thick and dense prostrate mass.
Bark
Red-brown in color and have a wire-like appearance.
Leaves
Petiole and variable in shape and size. They are maybe lobed or entire margin.
Flowers
Small cream-colored and scented emerge from the leaf axils and the tips of the branchlets (2).
Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) care
1. Water
requires a good amount of water. As the leaves of these plants started to fall off in scarcity of water. Therefore they start falling it is important to rehydrate them again.
2. Light
This vine prefers bright light but can tolerate moderate light also and grow well.
3. Flower
Flowering occurs only under good bright light.
Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) proagation
Propagates mainly via root tip cutting in a moist potting media. As the leaves are very thin in texture, therefore, may be dehydrated soon therefore it is preferred to cover the cutting with plastic or glass in order to keep the humidity (3).