Antigonon leptopus

Common Name: coral vine

Family: Polygonaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a-10b

Growth Habit: Vine

Origin: Mexico

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: pre-1916

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Perennial, herbaceous vine to 12 m with a slightly woody base and tuberous roots. Stems jointed with tendrils, and appearing in a zigzag pattern, often hairy. Leaves alternate, simple, to 15 cm long and 10 cm wide, heart-shaped with wavy margins. Showy, pink to purplish red, stalked flowers to 2.5 cm long. Fruit a small 3-angled achene.

Habitat

Hammock margins and disturbed areas

Comments

Highly invasive in Guam.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Limited research or data on chemical control, best recommendation foliar application of glyphosate ot trichlopyr (IFAS, CAIP).
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Dave's Garden. 2014. PlantFiles: Coral Vine, Antigonon leptopus. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/2050/. Accessed on June 20, 2014.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2014. Coral vine. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/40. Accessed on June 26, 2014.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Wunderlin, R. P., and B. F. Hansen. 2008. Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/).[S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.