Matelea carolinensis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Maryland to Texas
Plant Profile: Matelea carolinensis
Taxonomy: Matelea carolinensisNames
Carolina Angelpod, Carolina Milkvine, Climbing Milkweed, Maroon Carolina Milkvine
Phonetic Spelling:ma-TEL-ee-uh kair-oh-lin-EN-sis
Genus:Matelea
Species:carolinensis
Family:Apocynaceae
This indigenous vine belongs to the dogbane family. It features herbaceous, twining stems adorned with wide, opposite leaves that are typically ovate and sometimes heart-shaped, complemented by maroon blossoms. In Central North Carolina, these native perennials are commonly spotted in areas near power lines, at woodland borders, and climbing fences alongside roads.
Matelea carolinensis Feature Summary
Matelea carolinensis Image Gallery
Tags
#purple
#maroon
#brown
#stream banks
#NC native
#twining
#burgundy
#heart-shaped
#woodlands
Similar Plants
Matelea carolinensis Feature Summary
Attributes
Maryland to Texas
Open deciduous woods, stream banks in SE USA, AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , SC , TN , TX , VA
Twining
Flowers
Cupped star-shaped 5 petaled flowers are a maroon purple-brown color clustered in groups of 5-10 on axillary cymes on long stalks.
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Cup
Star
3-6 inches
Leaves
Twining vine with milky sap; 2-4 in. heart-shaped short-hairy leaves acuminate, cordate with rounded basal sinus.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Opposite
Cordate
Entire
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Coastal
Piedmont
Stem
Landscape
Native Garden
Woodland
Slope/Bank
Riparian
Vertical Spaces
Butterflies
Matelea carolinensis Image Gallery
Matelea carolinensis Attributes
Matelea carolinensis: Distribution
Open deciduous woods, stream banks in SE USA, AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , KY , LA , MD , MS , NC , SC , TN , TX , VA
Matelea carolinensis: Climbing Method
Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining
Matelea carolinensis Flowers
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Description
Cupped star-shaped 5 petaled flowers are a maroon purple-brown color clustered in groups of 5-10 on axillary cymes on long stalks.
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Matelea carolinensis: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Matelea carolinensis Leaves
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Description
Twining vine with milky sap; 2-4 in. heart-shaped short-hairy leaves acuminate, cordate with rounded basal sinus.
Matelea carolinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Color
Green
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Matelea carolinensis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Matelea carolinensis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Matelea carolinensis Whole Plant Traits
Matelea carolinensis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Matelea carolinensis: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Matelea carolinensis: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Matelea carolinensis Cultural Conditions
Matelea carolinensis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Matelea carolinensis: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Matelea carolinensis Stem
Matelea carolinensis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Matelea carolinensis Landscape
Matelea carolinensis: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Matelea carolinensis: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Matelea carolinensis: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
