CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

Coral Vine

Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn.

Botanical name	: Antigonon leptopus Hook and Arn.
Common Name	: Coral Vine
Family	: Polygonaceae
Synonym	: Corculum leptopus Stuntz
About	: Antigonon leptopus or coral vine is an invasive species that has increased in abundance in recent years. Coral vine is grown in the landscape as an ornamental, typically used for its vining habit to cover fences or climb trellises. It tolerates poor soil and a wide range of light conditions, making it a very successful invasive plant species. a long-lived vine with climbing or scrambling stems that sometimes loses its leaves during the dry season. its slender stems climb up or sprawl over other vegetation by means of tendrils that are borne in the leaf forks. Its alternately arranged leaves (2.5-15 cm long and 2-10 cm wide) are often heart-shaped or somewhat triangular in shape and have a strongly wrinkled appearance. Flowers in axillary racemes feature pink to white sepals. Blooms late summer to fall. Coarse, wavy-edged, arrowhead-shaped green leaves (to 4" long). Its small brown fruit (8-12 mm long and 4-7 mm wide) are shiny and usually remain hidden within the remains of the dead petals. Antigonon leptopus is regarded as an environmental weed in many parts of the world. It can completely smother native plants, out-competing native vines and understory vegetation.