Coral Vine (Antignon leptopus)

[Neil C]

I was wondering if anyone here is or has grown the above vine and what was the experience? I really like this vine but it is starting to take over somewhat. At present it's only sprawling over a few trees that I'm not bother about but I don't want to get to a stage where I can't get rid of it. I remember watching a documentary about some tropical island where it was growing as a ground cover and the islanders where having trouble removing it. Apparently the pigs wouldn't eat it as it is poisonous. I haven't seen any seeds pods yet but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough.

Regards Neil

[SubTropicRay]

This vine has gorgeous flowers but yes, it takes over quickly and seeds germinate readily. It takes constant maintenance to keep this one in check.

[Pip]

That looks like something my Grandmother used to grow. Adelaide's climate kept in check so never grew into a problem. It is a plant that likes to scramble over others

[_Keith]

Post deleted. Not the plant I thought it was.

[Silas_Sancona]

See these scattered around older neighborhoods around town. Agree with Ray that Coral vine can be a very aggressive grower here, easily covering anything it climbs over. So much that it looks like an overgrown Bougainvillea from a distance.

Interestingly, saw these, or a variant of the species being sold in Phoenix when I visited a couple years ago. Was told it isn't quite as vigorous there when id asked about it. Notice a lot of butterflies, particularly Swallowtails, love the flowers.

-Nathan

[mnorell]

I grow it here in the Keys because it is beautiful, easy and our Key Deer won't touch it. It's always been one of my favorites since I first saw it scrambling around the roadsides in its native habitat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, many years ago. I'll take it over Bougainvillea anyday. Once it gets going in the trees it wants to keep going, so you have to keep your eye on it. As long as they're scrambling along the ground, they seem to be very inhibited and don't do much. On the plus side, they are a wonderful bee plant and you will hear lots of buzzing around the blossoms. But yes, they seed and volunteer readily. I let them climb up in the coconuts and other trees a little and then yank them down when they get a bit overzealous, it's not a difficult operation, though, and can be part of your regular maintenance program without too much worry and extra effort. And they give that wild tropical look as they clamber up and show their beautiful deep pink blooms against the blue sky, and can have quite a spectacular effect. They have thin stems and are not nearly as hard to pull down as some of the other tropical lianas.

[Neil C]

Thanks for all the replies and yes the bees love the flowers. I'll trim it right back when the dry season arrives and let it run wild again next year.

Regards Neil

[katfelix914]

It is beautiful, but man it will grow like you wouldnt believe. I actually saw the ends of the vine slowly move around, reaching for new area. Bees love them, ive had humming birds also.