Heartleaf Madeiravine is a subtropical climbing perennial that transforms gardens with vigorous, fleshy vines adorned by heart-shaped leaves and delicate, lamb's tail-like sprays of tiny white flowers blooming from September through October. Hardy in zones 9-11, this succulent vine grows rapidly from fleshy rhizomes, reaching mature heights of 12 to 100 feet depending on support and climate. In frost-free regions, it behaves as an evergreen climber of considerable strength; in colder zone 9 areas with winter frost, it dies back to the ground and regrows from the roots each spring. The plant tolerates drought well once established and thrives in full sun to partial shade, making it a surprisingly low-maintenance choice for warm climates where its exuberant growth can be managed.
Partial Sun
Moderate
9-11
1200in H x 240in W
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High
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This vine's most remarkable trait is its dual personality: evergreen and nearly unstoppable in warm, frost-free climates, yet manageable and deciduous in cooler zone 9 gardens where winter frosts cut it to the ground each year. The fleshy, succulent nature of both stems and leaves gives it an almost tropical appearance, while the delicate white flowers that appear in late summer and fall add an unexpected grace to otherwise robust growth. In regions where hard frost regularly kills back the tops, gardeners get the best of both worlds: vigorous summer growth without the invasive tendencies that plague frost-free zones.
This vine is primarily grown to naturalize areas, where its rapid, vigorous growth habit can clothe arbors, trellises, walls, and fences with lush foliage and seasonal flowers. In warm climates where frost is rare or absent, it serves as a bold landscape specimen, though gardeners must be prepared for its aggressive behavior and willingness to climb into neighboring trees and structures with considerable force.
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Prune aggressively and regularly in frost-free zones where this vine's vigorous growth habit can quickly overwhelm structures and nearby plants; frequent trimming helps manage its invasive tendencies. In colder zone 9 climates where hard frost kills the vine to the ground each winter, pruning is less critical since the plant naturally resets each spring, though you can remove any frost-damaged stems in early spring before new growth emerges.
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