Coral creeper, Love vine
Antigonon leptopus

Family: Polygonaceae

What it is like

A vine which loses its leaves during the year. It climbs to a height of 3-12 m. The twigs end in tendrils for climbing. These can be simple or branched. The vine has many branches. The stem is slender and wiry. The leaves are dark or bright green and heart shaped or almost triangular. The edges of the leaves have saw like teeth. The leaf is often wavy. The leaves are 5-14 cm long. The leaf stalk is 8-20 mm long and clasps the stem. The flowers are rose pink and bell shaped. Flowers can be of 2 sexes or of one sex. The flowers are 1.5-2 cm across. They occur in sprays of 6-15 flowers in sprays which can be 15 -60 cm long. The seed or small nut is 3 sided with enlarged outer lobes. The tuberous roots are edible.

There are about 2-4-8 Antigonon species. It is often grown as an ornamental along fences.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in America. It prefers light well drained soils. It grows in dry soils. It does best in a sheltered sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 8-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Malaysia, Mariana Islands, Marquesas, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico (country/location of origin), Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Somalia, South America, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The root tubers are edible cooked. In Thailand the leaves and flowers are dipped in flour and served with vermicelli. The flowers are also mixed into omelettes.

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Tubers, root, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seed should be soaked overnight. The soil temperature needs to be above 13-16 °C. They can also be grown from soft tip cuttings. Plants can re-grow from the tuberous roots.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Aur mata pengantin, Ang ti gon, Bellisma, Binga berteh, Bride's tears, Bruidstranen, Bunga air mata pengantin, Bunga bonet, Cadena de amor, Chain of love vine, Confederate vine, Corallita, Coralvine, Foolish virgin, Heart's on a chain, Hearts-on-a-chain, Hieunu, Honolulu creeper, Mexican creeper, Mountain rose, Phuang chomphuu, Puang champoo, Queen's wreath, Taik-pan, Tigon

Synonyms

Antigonon cinerascens M. Martens & Galeotti; Antigonon cordatum M. Martens & Galeotii;