Another stow-away from South America, Mexico and especially Baja California, the Coral Vine was also found growing in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Placed in the Polygonaceae family along with about 1200 other species including Seagrapes and Buckwheat, this plant is a perennial, fast growing climbing vine with tendrils that allow it to hold tight to other plants or structures. The scientific name for this plant is Antigonon leptopus, which comes from Greek with Antigonon meaning “an opposite angle”, possibly referring to the arrangement of the plant’s blossoms. Its species name, leptopus, also comes from Greek with leptos meaning thin or delicate and pous, means foot. A newer scientific name for the plant given to it around 2013 by the folks at Kew is Corculum leptopus. And while no one seems to use this name, Corculum means “heart” in Latin probably referring to the shape of the plant’s leaves.
There are several names for this plant in English, among them are: Chain of Love, Confederate Vine, Love’s Chain, Mexican Creeper, Mexican Mountain Rose, Pink Vine, Purple Wreath, Queen’s Wreath, Rose of the Mountains and West Indian Rose. It is also called Tallahassee Vine, Honolulu Creeper, the Christmas Island Crawler, and Desert Bleeding Heart. The plant is widely cultivated in South America where it is called Bellisima, Confiteco, or Corallita in Spanish.
In 1805 Coral Vine plants were brought to Egypt and now they grow wild in tropical Africa and some parts of the Mediterranean. The plant can also be found on 98% of the Pacific Islands including French Polynesia where it is called “Liane Antigone, Liane Corail, or Rosa-de-Montana. In the United States the plant is an annual vine used by landscapers and gardeners in the Southeast and Gulf areas of the U.S.A. where it climbs on trellises and fences. The beautiful flowers grow in pink clusters and at least 40% of them are open at any given time during the blooming season. Unfortunately, it was introduced to Florida around 1942 and proved to be a fast spreader. In tropical areas it becomes weedy and invasive. Because of this, it is listed as an invasive plant in that state.
The Leaves of the Coral Vine are about 4” long, pale green, more arrow shaped than heart shaped, and crinkly. In zones 9 to 11 the plant is an evergreen. In cooler climates it loses its leaves in the winter or dry season. As an annual plant, the Coral Vines can grow up to 8 to 10 feet, or 7 meters high, in a single year. In its native habitat it can reach up to 40 feet high. The plant loves full sun, average medium moisture and well drained soils, but it tolerates poor soil and a variety of light conditions.
The plant makes a large tuber that grows a meter or so in the ground and is difficult to remove once it’s established. It can also reproduce from seeds, root suckers and stem segments which makes the Coral Vine almost impossible to eradicate in places where it’s causing a problem such as in Northern Australia. It’s a fast grower, and if cut back or damaged by frost, the large rootstock will just resprout. Even though it is a pretty plant, it is a smothering vine that invades disturbed areas and forest edges, and quickly covers other plants and structures.
The Coral Vine used to and might still be eaten by the native people of Baja California. In particular, the seeds can be made into a flour. Native people first toasted the seeds in a flat basket of flexible twigs and then covered them up with live coals. When the baskets were shaken and the seeds were toasted, they burst open, revealing a white kernel. The kernels were then separated from the husks by tossing them into the air. Then the kernels were ground into flour and used to make breads. The seeds could also be boiled and made into fried cakes. All of this plant is edible and eating it where it has invaded the land may help control its spread or at least make the plant more useful. While one of my resources found the tubers to have a nutty flavor, others thought they tasted terrible, but the flowers can be dipped into flour and fried. They can also be mixed into other foods such as eggs and made into an omelet, or used to garnish other dishes.
The plant is an antioxidant, and has anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicinal properties. A tea made from its leaves can treat diabetes and high blood pressure. An extract made from its leaves and flowers inhibits lipid peroxidation which can lead to “membrane rupture and cell death”, conditions that we all want to avoid. A hot tea made from the aerial parts of the plant is used to relieve flu and cold symptoms. In Jamaica, the plant is called the “Cold Bush” because it is used to help control the effects of the common cold.
The fruit of the plant is cone-shaped and 8 to 12 mm long and 4 to 7 mm wide. The fruit produces what is described as a prolific amount of shiny seeds that float on water, helping the plant to spread near and far. The seeds are also eaten and spread by birds, by domestic animals and wild animals like raccoons and pigs.
However useful the plant might be as a food and medicinal plant, outside its natural range it is noted for destabilizing island and tropical ecosystems. When scientists analyzed plants found in Pacific islands like Guam, and islands in the Caribbean like St. Eustatius, they discovered that the Coral Vine was introduced multiple times by humans from different seed sources. This means that it was probably brought as an ornamental by non native people, and then escaped their gardens and spread to the wild. On the island of St. Eustatius the plant covers 20% of the land. In non-native places the plant grows best in disturbed areas, forest edges, roadsides, coral cliffs, and limestone soils. It smothers native vines and understory plants. In the dry season or droughts, the leaves of the Coral Vine dry out and drop to the ground providing fuel for wildfires which causes even more devastation.
Fortunately, the plant is not a threat at high elevations and will not spread above an altitude of 1,000 feet. In Hawaii the plant is commonly cultivated and is only sparingly naturalized in disturbed areas. In Fiji the plant is cultivated in gardens and hedges near sea level. In Papua New Guinea it is cultivated in lowland regions. However, it was introduced to the Galápagos Islands of Floreana, Isabela, and the volcanic island of Sierra Negra and is now invasive! And on Christmas Island it sadly may be hampering the annual migration of crabs.
The little plant growing in Tel-Aviv Jaffa did not seem to be a problem and seemed to be growing near someone’s yard. One of my sources said that the vine could also be found in Kibbutz Harduf, in the southwestern corner of the Galilee where it attracts pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
The Coral Vine is a confusing plant. Its seeds are not thought to be able to survive a journey in salt water which means that it was and still is intentionally introduced by humans all over the world. As an ornamental it is prized for its beautiful blossoms and quick and easy growth. But it has also proved to be an invasive pest and a threat to low-lying, tropical ecosystems.
Want to find out more about the Coral Vine? Want to plant some of your own and try eating it? Check out these references below:
iNaturalistil, “Antigonon leptopus”, https://israel.inaturalist.org/taxa/48380-Antigonon-leptopus
Creative Jewish Mom, “Stunning Coral Vine with Tiny Pink Blooms in Harduf, Israel”, https://www.creativejewishmom.com/2022/11/the-stunning-coral-vine-with-tiny-pink-blooms.html
Gardenia, “Antigonon leptopus (Coral Vine)”, https://www.gardenia.net/plant/antigonon-leptopus
Deane, “Coral Vine”, Eat the Weeds, https://www.eattheweeds.com/antigonon-leptopus-creeping-cuisine-2/
Missouri Botanical Garden, “Antigonon leptopus”, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285458
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, “Antigonon leptopus”, https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/antigonon-leptopus/
Southwest Desert Flora, “Antigonon Leptopus, Coral Vine”, 2017,https://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Polygonaceae/Antigonon%20leptopus,%20Coral%20Vine.html
Janelle M. Burke and A. DiRommaso, “Corallita (Antigonon leptopus): Intentional Introducton of a Plant with Documented Invasive Capability”, Cambridge University Press, 2017, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/invasive-plant-science-and-management/article/corallita-antigonon-leptopus-intentional-introduction-of-a-plant-with-documented-invasive-capability/E69324C9F0150DA49B8625B82EF8B8A7
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (Pier), “Antigonon leptopus”, http://www.hear.org/pier/species/antigonon_leptopus.htm