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Tetrastigma spp.
chestnut vine
Tropical and subtropical Asia to Australasia
Overview
Tetrastigma is a genus of roughly 100 evergreen, tendril-climbing vines in the grape family, ranging through tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia and the Pacific. Plants climb vigorously by forked tendrils, with woody older stems and large, glossy, palmately compound leaves of three to five toothed leaflets. Growth is fast, and a single plant can extend 10-50 feet (3-15 m) where support and warmth allow. The vines are dioecious, carrying small greenish to yellow-green flowers in branched clusters on separate male and female plants, followed on female plants by rounded, grape-like berries. T. voinierianum, the chestnut vine, is grown as a foliage houseplant for its bold leaves and rapid cover. Several species are the only hosts of the parasitic Rafflesia, whose flowers erupt directly from the vine stems. The fast growth means plants need regular cutting back and sturdy support, and they are damaged below about 50F (10C), limiting outdoor use to frost-free climates.
Native Range
Tetrastigma is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, from India and southern China through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, northern Australia, and the western Pacific. Species grow in rainforest and monsoon forest, climbing into the canopy.Suggested Uses
Grown as a fast evergreen cover for pergolas, walls, and large frames in frost-free gardens, and as a bold-leaved houseplant or conservatory vine in cooler regions. Suited to filling vertical space quickly where support is strong.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height10' - 50'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Small greenish to yellow-green flowers open in branched clusters during the warm season, mainly summer, and are easy to overlook. Plants are dioecious, so only female vines set fruit. Flowering is infrequent on indoor plants.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish to yellow-greenFoliage Description
glossy greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 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
Grow in bright, indirect light or dappled shade with warmth and high humidity, on a moist, free-draining, humus-rich mix. Keep the soil evenly moist in active growth and drier in cool spells, as cold wet roots rot. Provide a strong trellis or frame, since stems grow quickly and become heavy. Feed during the growing season and wipe or rinse the large leaves to keep them clean. Grow frost-free, as temperatures below about 50F (10C) damage the foliage.Pruning
Cut back long or crowded stems at any time in the growing season to control size and direct growth. Plants tolerate hard pruning and resprout readily. Remove dead or damaged stems as they appear.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons