Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also butterfly gardens.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Low climbing herbaceous vine.
Dimensions:
N/A; a vine with stems to 6 feet or more in length.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Eastern North America west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. Rare in the Monroe County Keys and very rare or absent in the middle Keys.
Habitats:
Forest edges, pinelands and prairies.
Soils:
Wet to moist, moderately-drained sandy, limestone, or organic soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without injury.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy, but quickly turns ratty.
Flowering Season:
All year.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous achene. All year.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Sometimes a larval host for little metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis) butterflies. Nectar plant for little metalmark butterflies.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed. Sprinkle on surface of soil.
Gann, G.D., M.E. Abdo, J.W. Gann, G.D. Gann, Sr., S.W.
Woodmansee, K.A. Bradley, E. Grahl and K.N. Hines. 2005-2013. Natives For Your Neighborhood. http://www.regionalconservation.org.
The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida USA.