Climbing Hempvine
Mikania scandens
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Mexico, United States
Britton, N.L., and A. Brown.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Mikania
- Species:
- Mikania scandens
- USDA Symbol:
- MISC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cosmosoma auge, Scarlet-bodied wasp moth (Cosmosoma myrodora), Semiothisa continuata
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Atteva aurea, Leucospilapteryx venustella, Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica) Butterflies:Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, bees
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from rootstock following fire; common in fire-maintained wetland margins and swamp edges.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- commonly found in wetlands and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
Pre-treatment: Seeds need 4 months of cold, moist stratification
Establishment: Due to its climbing habit and fast growth rate, the plant is difficult to control in a greenhouse.
Source: npn.rngr.net