Malaisia scandens
burnie vine
Eastern Australia, Southeast Asia, western Pacific
Overview
Malaisia scandens is an evergreen woody climber in the fig family that twines and scrambles through trees and shrubs to 20-50 feet (6-15 m) long, with slender wiry stems that exude a watery to milky sap when cut. Leaves are alternate, oval to elliptic, 1.5-4 inches (4-10 cm) long, with toothed margins and a rough, sandpapery upper surface. Plants are dioecious. Male flowers hang in slender catkin-like spikes, while female flowers form tight rounded clusters in the leaf axils. Female plants develop fleshy red to orange drupes about 0.3-0.4 inch (8-10 mm) wide that ripen in summer and autumn. Growth is vigorous, and the stems can climb high into the canopy and form tangles. In gardens the rampant growth and rough foliage require space and regular containment, and a single male or female plant alone will not produce the coloured fruit.
Native Range
Native to eastern Australia, from New South Wales north into Queensland, and extending through Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. Grows in and on the margins of rainforest, gallery forest, and vine thickets, on a range of moist, fertile soils in warm, frost-free climates.Suggested Uses
Grown on sturdy trellises, fences, and pergolas in frost-free gardens and in rainforest-regeneration plantings, where the fruit feeds birds. Allowed to scramble, it can form a dense screen. Its vigour and rough foliage limit its use in small or low-maintenance gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 50'
Width/Spread10' - 20'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in spring and summer, from September to February. The small greenish flowers are inconspicuous and easily missed. On female plants, red to orange drupes follow and ripen through summer into autumn. Flowering and fruiting overlap on established female vines.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in moist, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade, with support to climb. Water regularly in dry spells, as growth slows under drought. The vigorous stems climb and tangle quickly and need a sturdy structure and routine cutting back to stay in bounds. Few pests or diseases are significant. Both a male and a female plant are needed for fruit. The rough foliage can irritate skin during handling.Pruning
Cut back stems in late winter or after fruiting to control length and remove tangled growth. Plants reshoot strongly from older wood after hard cutting. Thinning crowded stems improves air flow and keeps the vine within its support. Frequent trimming is needed because of the fast growth.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
winter