Forming lots of thin, wiry stems, which are clothed in small dark green leaves, this fast-growing deciduous plant can be grown as either a shrubby, scrambling groundcover, or if given something to cling to, a twining climber. It is primarily grown for its delicate-looking foliage, which creates a light and airy feel, but it also produces small sprays of tiny greenish-white flowers in midsummer, followed by cream-coloured, inedible fleshy fruits.
How to care for Muehlenbeckia complexa:
Find a spot where it is sheltered from cold, drying winds, and provide support if you would like it to climb. No routine pruning is required unless it outgrows its allotted space, in which case it should be trimmed back immediately after flowering.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
3m
Eventual spread:
2m
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas)
-
This climber is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.