Muehlenbeckia: location, care & winter hardiness
Muehlenbeckia decorates our gardens and our windowsills as a groundcover in beds or containers. You can find out exactly what is behind this versatile plant here.
Muehlenbeckia (Muehlenbeckia axillaris and Muehlenbeckia complexa) is known as both an indoor and garden plant. In the garden in warm locations, it is often planted as a groundcover. We have summarised all the information on planting and caring for the low shrub for you here.
Contents
Muehlenbeckia: origin and characteristics
Muehlenbeckia belongs to the knotweed family (Polygonaceae) and is native to the forests of Australia, New Zealand and South America. This versatile plant is a small, deciduous shrub with a creeping, widely branched and climbing habit. Also known in our country as wire vine or wire plant, the plant is characterised by its slightly hairy, filigree, dark shoots. It has small, mostly circular, entire-edged leaves that are opposite on the stems. These are often slightly darker on the top than on the underside of the leaves and take on a rusty brown colour in the fall. The yellow-green, star-shaped, hermaphrodite flowers consist of five fused bracts and appear in spikes or clusters. The flowering period is from May to July. The fruits look like small, black shiny berries. This is where the term necklace vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris) comes from. This is conditionally hardy in our area, unlike the maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa), which is not frost hardy in our area. The low-growing shrubs can be wonderfully planted outdoors as groundcover or bed edging. If you provide them with a climbing aid, they even climb up to 2 m high. The wire plant also looks good hanging in hanging baskets. However, the Muehlenbeckia is not only popular outdoors, but also as a houseplant. In our latitudes, the plants are usually cultivated only as annuals, despite their potential perenniality.
The most beautiful varieties
The plant genus of Muehlenbeckia includes about 20 different species with, in turn, their own varieties. We present the most important ones below.
Necklace vine (Muehlenbeckia axillaris): This flat-growing shrub, which is also suitable as a groundcover, has small, around leaves that turn rusty brown in the fall. It bears small, shiny black berries as fruits and reaches a height between 5 and 10 cm. Here it is hardy down to – 5 °C.
- Muehlenbeckia axillaris ‘Nana’: This cultivar is a dwarf form of Muehlenbeckia axillaris with distinctly smaller, brown-green leaves and bronze-coloured shoots. It reaches a growth height of up to 10 cm.
Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa): This flat-growing shrub is also suitable as a groundcover and houseplant. It has small leaves on wiry, creeping branches, reaches up to 15 inches in height, and is not hardy.
- Muehlenbeckia complexa ‘Autumn magic’: The variant develops particularly large leaves and very strong shoots. It grows up to 50 cm high and prefers sunny locations.
Planting Muehlenbeckia
Planting Muehlenbeckia is unproblematic, once you have found the right place and soil.
The right location
As for the place and soil, Muehlenbeckia is quite unpretentious and quite adaptable. The right location for the Muehlenbeckia is sunny to partial shade, both outdoors and indoors. However, it does not tolerate the blazing midday sun so well. Make sure there is adequate air movement at the site. In general, the plant tolerates cooler temperatures better than constant heat. The low-growing shrub copes well with temporary drought, whereas waterlogging quickly leads to root rot. To avoid this, potted plants should have good drainage and a drainage layer, for example, made of potsherds.
The soil requirements of Muehlenbeckia are for a well-drained, humus-rich, fresh soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A calcareous substrate, on the other hand, is not recommended. The best substrate is a mixture of one third sand and two thirds potting soil, such as our Plantura Organic Flower Compost. It is ideal for all flowering plants in beds and pots, because it contains everything for vital and vigorous Muehlenbeckia plants with quality compost, coconut and wood fibres, crushed expanded clay, clay minerals, lime and magnesium fertilisers and a primarily organic fertiliser.
- Perfect for all flowering plants in garden beds & pots
- For beautiful blossoms & healthy plant growth
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Planting Muehlenbeckia: Procedure
Then all you have to do is dig a sufficiently large planting hole and plant the shrub. Afterwards the gaps are filled with soil again, pressed tightly and watered well. The right time to plant wire bushes is between spring and autumn, always taking into account the frost tolerance of each variety. For groundcover, plant at a distance of 20 to 30 cm, so 10 to 12 specimens per m2 are sufficient. Smaller varieties can also be placed up to 20 bushes per m2. If Muehlenbeckia is placed in a pot, make sure the planter is large enough. It should be at least one-third larger than the root ball of the plant. Apart from that, follow the same procedure for planting in pots as for planting in beds.
Muehlenbeckia care
The care of Muehlenbeckia consists largely of regular watering, fertilising and pruning. However, with the right location and soil, this is less complicated than it sounds.
Watering
The Muehlenbeckia needs regular watering so that the root ball remains moist throughout. For potted plants, the substrate should dry only superficially before the next watering. Shrubs in the open ground also need watering when the top layer of soil has dried out. Waterlogging quickly leads to root rot, which permanently damages the plant. Therefore, a permeable substrate with a drainage layer is extremely important. In winter, the need for water decreases, and therefore watering should also be reduced. Water only enough during this time so that the root ball does not dry out completely.
Correct fertilisation
There are several ways to provide adequate nutrients to Muehlenbeckia. The easiest way is to apply a portion of liquid fertiliser once a month with the watering. Our Plantura Liquid Flower Food is suitable here. It provides a rich green throughout the season with its balanced nutrient composition. In addition, the organic liquid fertiliser is quite simple and convenient to use. Alternatively, a portion of slow-release fertiliser, such as our Plantura Organic Universal Fertiliser, can be incorporated into the planting substrate in April. It supports healthy plant growth and an active soil life while slowly releasing nutrients to the plant. During the pause in vegetation between October and April, the wire plant is not fertilised.
- Perfect for a variety of plants in the garden & on the balcony
- Promotes healthy plant growth & an active soil life
- Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly
Pruning Muehlenbeckia
Pruning the Muehlenbeckia is not absolutely necessary. However, this can stimulate densely branched growth in the spring. If it is cultivated as a groundcover, it is sufficient to pass over it with a high-set lawn mower or hedge trimmer. It can even be trimmed evenly into shape similar to a topiary to create a level carpet. For potted and tub plants, simply remove shoots that are too long and bothersome. For outdoor shrubs, the best time to prune is in the fall; houseplants can be pruned all year. Diseased and withered shoots may be cut off at any time. Often wire shrub reveals its true splendour only when it is allowed to grow wild – so you can happily forego pruning.
Tip: Shoots of Muehlenbeckia lying on the ground will easily re-root – this also makes them easy to propagate.
Repotting
Houseplants should be repotted every one to two years, as it can quickly become too crowded for the fairly fast-growing plant. For this purpose, the best time is spring, when the flowering is over. After repotting, fertilisation is no longer necessary for the time being, because the fresh substrate provides enough nutrients for the plant.
Muehlenbeckia loses leaves: what to do?
If your Muehlenbeckia drops its leaves, it may be due to several reasons. We name these below and explain what you can do about them.
- Stagnant moisture: The soil should be well-drained so that waterlogging does not form. This is because it causes the roots to start rotting and the leaves to fall off as a result. To prevent waterlogging, the substrate can be enriched with sand when planting and a drainage layer of clay shards can be placed in the plant pot.
- Inappropriate location and care: As mentioned earlier, location is an important factor in successfully cultivating a Muehlenbeckia. If the location is not airy or bright enough, or if it is too dark, the shrub will quickly respond with leaf drop. In that case a better location for the plant should definitely be sought. Also, do not underestimate the water requirements of Muehlenbeckia. Therefore, check regularly whether the soil is still moist enough, because in too dry conditions it will also shed its leaves.
- Too dark overwintering: If the evergreen Muehlenbeckia complexa is left in too dark a place during the winter months, the leaves can no longer photosynthesise and will fall off. It helps to simply move the plant to a nice, bright place. As a rule, the shrub will then sprout again. The deciduous Muehlenbeckia axillaris sheds its leaves in winter anyway.
Is the Muehlenbeckia hardy?
The winter hardiness of the wire plant is quite diverse. While Muehlenbeckia axillaris is moderately hardy, Muehlenbeckia complexa tolerates only short periods of frost lasting a few days. Accordingly, the necklace vine can overwinter outdoors with adequate winter protection. However, it should then be well wrapped in brushwood, leaves or a plant fleece. It is also important to avoid waterlogging. Protected in this way, this Muehlenbeckia can permanently survive frosts down to – 5 °C. Maidenhair vine Muehlenbeckia, by contrast, does not tolerate frosty temperatures and must be overwintered indoors. Here it is convenient to cultivate the Muehlenbeckia in a tub, because this way it can easily be moved to a frost-free, bright winter quarters with a temperature of 5 to 10 °C before the first frost. In an unheated conservatory, for example, overwintering is no problem. Before you winterise the Muehlenbeckia, you should trim the plant a little.
In both cases, the wire plant is not fertilised during the pause in vegetation and watered only occasionally, so that the root ball does not dry out completely. Recover overwintered specimens outdoors early in the spring, in early March, so that the plant will soon resprout. If the Muehlenbeckia is cultivated as a houseplant, it can continue to be cared for as normal in winter – only fertilisation should be stopped between October and March and the water requirement is also lower.
Tip: Too warm wintering often results in the formation of long, pale light deficient shoots, which should be cut off in spring. To prevent the formation of such shoots, a bright, cool overwintering at a temperature of 5 to 10 °C is recommended.
Propagation
The Muehlenbeckia is most easily propagated by division or by cuttings. Spring is a particularly good time for dividing. To do this, carefully dig up the plant and break the root ball into two equal halves. Use only your hands for splitting and do not use any other tool such as a knife. Then the two plants are planted in a suitable location and well watered.
Propagation by cuttings works indoors all year around. Select healthy shoot tips as cuttings and cut them so that they have at least 3 leaves. Then put the shoots into a low-nutrient growing medium, such as our Plantura Organic Herb & Seedling Compost. Due to its loose structure, it offers optimal growing conditions and promotes good root growth of the young plants. The growing container should be placed in a bright, warm place with a temperature of 20-25 °C and covered with a transparent cover, such as a transparent plastic film. This way you can increase the humidity. Air the cuttings daily to prevent mould growth and keep the growing medium moist throughout. After 4 to 6 weeks, the cuttings have formed new roots and can now be transplanted.
- Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
- For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Propagation from seed is also possible – but this requires a soil temperature of 20 °C. Seeds can either be obtained from another Muehlenbeckia plant or purchased from a specialist store.
Is the Muehlenbeckia poisonous?
No, the Muehlenbeckia is not poisonous. Neither the shoots nor the leaves, flowers or berries pose a danger. Nevertheless, the fruits should not be consumed by children, as there is little information so far about the exact ingredients. For animals, the plant is not dangerous. Special species are even used as a food source by chinchillas and guinea pigs.
The Muehlenbeckia combines well with all sorts of autumn plants, such as the Japanese anemone (Anemone spec.). For more info on planting and caring for this colourful flowering perennial, see our special article.
