Maidenhair Vine

Maidenhair Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) is a fast-growing, evergreen, tangling vine from New Zealand, with small round silver-bronze leaves on wiry stems. It spreads 2m to 3m in any direction, so it can trail from a basket, cover the ground, climb a fence or, pruned hard, stand as a freestanding shrub. It is far tougher than its delicate look suggests.

Why you'll love it

• One plant, many jobs. Depending on how you prune and train it, it works as a groundcover, climber, trailing plant or shrub.
• Fine texture, quiet colour. Small round leaves in silver and bronze, spaced along slender stems, give a soft, airy look.
• Takes wind and salt. It is salt tolerant and used on windy, exposed sites and frontline coastal gardens.
• Sun or part shade, most soils. It grows in clay and sandy soils, even shingle, provided drainage is good.
• Good for wildlife. Butterflies and other insects visit, so it earns its place in a wildlife garden.

Where it works best

Baskets, window boxes and balconies. The stems trail like a green curtain. On a balcony it can hang down to shade the room beneath.

Groundcover and banks. Plant 1m apart to knit a tangled mat over open ground, or to soften the edge of a slope.

Fences and screens. Train it along a chainlink fence, wires or a trellis. It scrambles and weaves, so expect to trim it.

Topiary and shrubs. Prune it hard and often into a freestanding shrub or a clipped shape.

Growing Maidenhair Vine in Australia

Position and climate. Sun or part shade. It is salt tolerant and will come through a light frost, though it may drop leaves. A hard frost kills the leafy growth above ground, but the plant usually regrows from the base.

Soil. Free-draining soil. It copes with clay, sand and even shingle, and drainage matters more than fertility.

Water and feed. Water regularly through the first 12 weeks while it establishes. Once settled it needs little attention. Plants in pots and baskets benefit from a light feed in spring.

Pruning. If the trailing stems get too long or too numerous, snip them back. It is vigorous and tangles over neighbouring plants, so trim it regularly and keep it away from bushland edges.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Maidenhair Vine as tube stock, in 140mm pots in packs of 10 and as single 300mm pots. Tube stock is a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and it is the value choice for covering ground or a long fence line. The 300mm pot gives a basket or a screen a head start. Plants travel upright and settle quickly, with new growth within weeks in warm weather.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse our groundcover range
• Climbers for fences and trellises
• Coastal and salt tolerant plants
• Plants for balconies and containers

Common questions

Will it climb on its own?

It scrambles and tangles rather than clinging, so tie it to wires, a trellis or a chainlink fence. Left alone it forms a loose mound or mat.

What happens in a frost?

A light frost may make it drop some leaves. A hard frost kills the leafy growth above ground, but the plant usually regrows.

Can I grow it in a hanging basket?

Yes, it is a classic trailing plant for baskets and window boxes. Give it free-draining mix, regular water while it settles in, and a trim when the stems get too long.