Pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa) is a distinctive native New Zealand plant. This vigorous, sprawling vine is also known as maidenhair vine, wire vine, and mattress vine, reflecting its unique appearance and growth habit. It forms a dense, intricate network of wiry stems.
Key Characteristics of Pohuehue
Muehlenbeckia complexa is indigenous to New Zealand, also found in parts of Australia and Lord Howe Island. It thrives in diverse habitats, including coastal areas, forests, and cliffs, and can be found across the North, South, and Stewart Islands. The plant’s most striking features are its wiry, interlacing, reddish-brown stems that give it a tangled appearance.
Its small, rounded leaves are bright green, typically ranging from 5mm to 20mm long. These leaves have led to its common name “maidenhair vine” due to their resemblance to maidenhair fern leaflets. Pohuehue is semi-deciduous, losing most leaves during winter, though new growth quickly emerges in spring. The plant exhibits a fast growth rate, spreading by layering and scrambling over neighboring plants or structures.
Cultivating Pohuehue
Pohuehue thrives in full sun to partial shade, avoiding intense midday sun. Adequate air movement is also beneficial for its health.
It prefers well-drained, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Excellent drainage is crucial to prevent root rot, especially for potted plants. It is tolerant of temporary drought once established. Regular watering is particularly important during its first year to establish a strong root system.
This resilient vine tolerates challenging conditions, including coastal exposure, wind, and varying temperatures. While it can withstand short periods of frost down to -5°C, providing winter protection like mulch or fleece can help it survive colder temperatures. Plant healthy specimens after autumn rains when the soil is moist and warm, allowing them to establish before summer dry periods. Young plants require consistent watering during dry spells for the first two to three years.
Managing Pohuehue’s Growth
Pohuehue’s vigorous nature requires management to maintain its desired form and size. Pruning is a primary method for shaping the plant and controlling its spread. While it does not require constant pruning, occasional trimming helps keep it neat, especially when used as a climber or in containers. This plant responds well to cutting back or shearing, recovering rapidly to produce new growth.
Propagation can be achieved through various methods, including cuttings, layering, and seeds. Semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer to early autumn from current season’s growth are effective. Place them in water or moist soil until roots develop, then transplant. For seed propagation, both male and female plants are required, as the species is dioecious.
To contain its expansive growth, several strategies can be employed. Pohuehue can be grown in pots or hanging baskets, where its trailing habit is attractive. For in-ground planting, root barriers can restrict its spread. Training the vine on supports like trellises or fences, and consistent clipping, can maintain it as a dense screen or topiary.
Ecological and Landscaping Contributions
Pohuehue plays a significant role in New Zealand’s natural ecosystems and offers diverse applications in landscaping. Ecologically, it is a valuable pioneer plant, effective in stabilizing disturbed ground, such as sand dunes and forest edges. Its dense, mat-forming growth helps suppress introduced weeds and control erosion.
The plant provides food and habitat for various native wildlife. Its small, creamy-green flowers attract bees and other pollinators. The fleshy, white fruits, which enclose shiny black seeds, are a favored food for native birds like tūī, bellbird, and kererū, as well as geckos and lizards. Muehlenbeckia complexa also serves as a host plant for several endemic copper butterflies, including the coastal copper, and other native insects.
In landscaping, Pohuehue’s versatility makes it a popular choice. It functions as an excellent groundcover, forming dense mats that suppress weeds. Its climbing habit allows it to be trained over fences, walls, pergolas, and trellises for lush coverage. It is particularly well-suited for coastal gardens due to its tolerance of salt spray and wind. Its unique texture and cascading effects also make it appealing for hanging baskets and containers.