Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Apocynaceae

Genus:

Matelea

Species:

Matelea variifolia

USDA Symbol:

MAVA2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb , Vine

Height:

200 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun,Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Medium

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

green, purple, maroon

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Butterflies & Moths:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

butterflies, bees

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

prefers open, sunny habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Germination can be erratic; fresh seed germinates more readily.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI