Muehlenbeckia complexa
Wire Vine, Maidenhair Vine, Pohuehue
Description:
Hardy New Zealand native scrambling shrub, climber, and groundcover with fine wiry stems and small, rounded green leaves. It forms dense, tangled mats and can scramble over fences, banks, rocks, and other plants, creating excellent texture and cover. Tiny greenish-white flowers appear in summer, followed by small translucent white berries that provide food for birds. Evergreen in warmer regions and semi-evergreen in colder areas, it is highly valued for its toughness, coastal tolerance, and ability to thrive in challenging conditions.
Height:
0.3–2m (can climb or scramble higher with support)
Width:
1–4m spread
Position:
Full sun to part shade. Performs well in exposed sites and tolerates wind, coastal conditions, and salt spray.
Soil:
Prefers well-drained soil but is highly adaptable, tolerating sandy, loamy, rocky, and poorer soils. Avoid prolonged waterlogging.
Uses:
- Groundcover for banks, slopes, and erosion control
- Scrambling cover for fences, walls, and trellises
- Coastal and dune planting
- Native and wildlife gardens
- Mixed plantings for texture and contrast
- Containers where a trailing habit is desired
Care Tips:
- Water regularly during establishment; once established it is drought tolerant
- Trim regularly to maintain shape and control growth, as it can become vigorous in ideal conditions
- Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring if required to encourage healthy growth
- Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds
- Prune back hard if plants become untidy or woody, as they respond well to rejuvenation pruning
- Hardy and adaptable, tolerating wind, coastal exposure, poor soils, and dry conditions once established
We have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the grade and quality of the plant in the images.
Plants are subject to availability; there is a slight possibility the plants can be sold before your order is processed. In this instance we can offer a refund or credit and let you know when more plants become available.
