How to Grow Coral Vine: Growing Queen’s Wreath
On a recent tour of my garden, the coral vine was in full bloom and stole the show. This stunning late-summer bloomer stops people in mid-sentence to ask, “What is that?” and “Where can I get it?” Learn how to grow coral vine, and decide if adding to your yard and garden is right.
The pink flower clusters with curling tendrils of coral vine are also impressive in floral arrangements. Coral vine is definitely a crowd- and bee-pleaser.
3 Tips For How To Grow Coral Vine
1. Before planting, learn if coral vine is considered an invasive species where you live.
Coral vine (Antigonon leptopus) is also aptly called Queen’s Wreath, Mexican Creeper, and Chain of Love. It is a fast-growing tropical vine with showy pink and white flowers that grows in USDA zones 9-11.
This Mexican native plant is considered invasive in certain parts of the world, including some south-eastern areas of the United States such as Florida. However, in dry, desert regions of the U.S., like Arizona, it is a rapid grower but not considered invasive.
This website has information to help you determine if coral vine is considered invasive in your area. If it is invasive where you live, do not plant it.
What is an invasive species?
An invasive species is “an alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” as per Executive Order 13112: Section1. Definitions.
2. Understand how coral vine grows.
Coral vine is grown from seed or transplant. Transplants are usually the best option.
- In some areas, underground tubers develop as the plant grows and spreads the vine to other areas.
- Coral vine also readily self-seeds as small seeds drop from within the dried flower petals.
- The thornless vines with deep green heart-shaped leaves and tendrils will readily climb a trellis or any available area.
- Coral vine begins to bloom in August, with peak blooms in October until frost.
- The showy pink flowers attract bees, and hundreds of bees are often along the vine in full bloom.
- Frost kills the vines, but underground tubers send out new shoots the following spring. Cut back the vines to nearly ground level once the danger of frost is passed in the spring.
3. Care for coral vine correctly.
- Plant coral vine transplants (preferred) or seeds after the danger of frost has passed.
- Choose a location to plant coral vine that you want to shade in the summer but have sun in the winter, as the vine will die back and be dormant in the coldest months of the year. (see photos below)
- Give coral vine plenty of room to spread; the vine is vigorous and does well on an arbor or large trellis.
- Coral vine tolerates most soils and does not need fertilizer or overly-rich soil.
- Water coral vine frequently when first planted. Once established, coral vine is drought tolerant and only needs water weekly during summer or dry spells.
- Coral vine thrives in full sun (even Arizona’s full sun) and heat; it will tolerate partial shade.
- Trim vines back as needed throughout the growing season.
- Prune back and remove all browned vines after frost. Vines can also be left to overwinter and pruned back in the spring. Mulch to protect tubers from freezing temperatures.
- Vines will rapidly regrow in the spring.
Coral vine season by season
Pollinators love coral vine
Discover more about creating a pollinator-friendly garden in my post, “Perennials for Pollinators in Your Desert Garden”, where I share tips on supporting local wildlife and promoting a healthy garden ecosystem.
Are you looking for more information about how to grow vines?
This is just one of 10 vines that grow well from seed. Learn more about my other favorites in this blog post.
This Arizona Vine Planting Guide shares some of my favorite vines that grow well in Arizona and gives growing and planting details for each one.
Want to add more color to your garden with flowers?
The Perpetual Annual Flower Planting Calendar, available in my shop, helps you learn when to plant flowers in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants.
Want more information about gardening in Arizona? This blog post shares 7 tips for how to grow a vegetable garden in Arizona.
If this post about how to grow coral vine was helpful, please share it:
Can you please tell me how to propagate from cuttings? Thanks!
Sure. While the plant is actively growing, cut a 6-8 inch piece off and strip all but top leaves. Place in water until roots form and then plant. You can also use rooting hormone and place stripped cutting in vermiculite or other growing medium, and keep moist until roots form.
@Angela Judd,
Thank you very much!
Wonderful information Angela! I need to find a place for this in my garden!
Glad it was helpful. I’ve loved having it in my garden.
My Queen’s wreath is going bonkers. If I trim it back I am cutting off all of the flowers. Is it still a good idea to trim it back. Phoenix,Az
You can keep it trimmed back. I would stop trimming it back in August or September so it can bloom. When you trim cut individual stems back rather than shearing it. Best of luck.
How can I order
You may want to your local nursery for plants.
I have germinated seeds on moist paper towels and transplanted seedlings to individual cups. They are growing true leaves. How do I harden off and when do I plant in the ground? Thanks for the info on this beautiful vine!
I would transplant to a larger pot and let them get a nice root system going. If you live here in the low desert I would wait to plant – the middle of the summer is a tough time to get a plant established. Once monsoon moisture comes and the plant is larger I would plant 1-2 out. If you can, save a couple of seedlings to plant in the fall as well, just in case it’s too hot. Best of luck. Keep me posted, I’d love to hear how it goes.
Hello Angela,
Thank you for wonderful blog for Az people. The heat kills almost everything in months of June-September.
I have 3 queen’s wreath, 2 in tall planters for them to cover 25foot trellis. The sun hits directly. The wines are not growing and almost looks burnt out. – 5 months old.
The one in ground, not in harsh sun has grown a lot in 2 years. Should I transplant this one in one of the pots? Do you think will eat survive the heat? Is transplanting tolerated by Queens wreaths.
I am eager as I love this wine and we really need shade to cover the trellis.
Thanks much.
-Chandler, Az
Tall pots in full sun may not be a good choice for the coral vine. Containers heat up and dry out more quickly. I definitely wouldn’t transplant any of them right now (in the summer) if you want to transplant the one in ground, wait until it dies back and goes dormant and then transplant in early spring. Make sure the containers are wide as well as tall (the larger the better) and fill with good quality potting soil.
Such a beautiful plant! Going to try my hand with this one. Would it be okay to grow over a wooden fence or would it be too heavy? I have trumpet vines and climbing ivy, but the way those climb is pretty damaging so this coral vine may be better and its so beautiful!
It wouldn’t be too heavy. Remember to cut it back each spring.
Hey! Thanks for the detailed info. I bought a small plant from a local nursery and forgot to water it for 2 days and found all of its leaves dried up third day. Can I revive it now?
It’s worth a try. They are pretty hardy.
My Coral Vines is huge but it has not bloomed in five years. I keep hoping but year after year there are no blooms. Any suggestions?
Does it get enough sun? Coral vine seems to do best with plenty of sun. I would make sure it isn’t over watered or fertilized too. Mine is grown in native soil with no fertilizer.
I have a plant that is thriving and last year I cut it back in Feb to about 3 ft in height. It grew back just fine up and over the trellis. It is done flowering so is it ok to cut it back now?
It’s safest to wait until after danger of frost is past to cut it back, but I typically cut mine back once it’s done flowering too. It has still come back each year.
I am in Phoenix and just found your YouTube videos – thanks so much for being THE resource for backyard gardeners in the valley. Just curious of your favorite valley nurseries – I am partial to Summer Winds, but curious if you have other suggestions.
I do love Summer Winds. I also like A&P nursery here in the East Valley. Arcadia Color Garden has been good, but I hear they have been purchased so we will see how that goes. Thanks so much for your support.
Is it illegal to have this plant grow.in south east Florida? Because I was looking at the very interesting leaves and beautiful flowers are just gorgeous!! Also I curious how long from speeding to grown plant for it too trail up a trellis?
I’d check with the local county extension agency, they may know for sure. It grows quickly and covers a trellis in a few months.
Can this grow on a trellis along a cement wall? Or will the wall give off too much heat? Thanks 🙂
Coral vine will grow with reflected heat on a cement wall. It’s a tough plant.
Hey Angela,
I love your videos.
My bedroom gets a lot of heat in the summer. So I thought of planting coral vine and put a trellis near the wall to cool off my house.
Does it grow well in pots? I have wicking tubs which are about 22 gallons (1/2 of a 55 gallon barrel).
Or does it do better in the ground? I do have a little space 2 foot x 3 foot near my Hvac condenser where I can plant the vine. All other spaces are concrete/turf.
Also, is it too late to buy a plant from the nursery and plant it?
It does best in the ground if possible. Planting now (May) would probably be fine. Keep it well-watered until it is established.
@Angela Judd, I’ll go ahead and plant it this week. Do I need to dig a hole twice the size of the pot and give some amendments like compost or can I just directly plant in native soil in a hole just about the size of the pot?
It’s always a good idea to dig a hole twice as wide. You don’t need to amend the hole,
Where can I buy seeds for QUEEN WREATH
I’m not sure. You may want to check online or at local nurseries for transplants.
Do you compost this when you cut it back?
Yes, you can. I do if I have room in my compost bins.
Coral vines brings back memories from Mexico.
When i was a child (6 -8) i was mesmerized by the tiny little flowers, watching
humming birds, bees, and butterflies all around them. I always knew that one day i would own one. And i do now. Nothing like owning a piece of nostalgia cause that’s worth a lot in today’s life.
Can I grow Coral Vine from cuttings? How can I do this?
I haven’t tried that before – you could try rooting it. It may work.
From cuttings, do you remove all of the flowers and just leave the top leaf?
Generally, yes.
I have a 14ft wide x 10ft tall exterior wall I want to make an espalier trellis on – would one plant suffice for this space? I know they need lots of room to spread! Growing in Southern California, zone 10b. Thanks!
Yes, one plant would easily fill that space.
I had a coral vine “bird planted” in my veggie garden, gorgeous, but out of place. I pulled up 3 feet of roots with many tubers. Can I replant tubers to start a new vine elsewhere? Tucson area.
Probably. The best time to do that is in early spring after danger of frost has passed.
Hi! Absolutely love your videos! Do you know where I can a buy a live Coral vine plant? Or are they even in stock in nurseries.
Thank you! Most nurseries carry them at different times of the year.
Hello Angela,
We’ve been researching Queen’s Wreath as we are looking to cover a tall viewing fence in our backyard that receives sun all day. If it helps, we live in Mesa.
When you mention it dies back each Winter – does this mean it will need to be cut down to the ground each year and be allowed to re-grow? If this is the case, I’m not sure if this would be a good option as it wouldn’t accomplish our goal of covering the fence year-round. I am not sure exactly how fast it grows, but the height of the fence is staggered and goes from probably 5 or so feet to 7-8 feet in places. It also goes along the entire back of our yard – probably about 60ish feet we’d like to cover.
If this may not be a fit, do you have other recommendations for something fast growing that can handle all-day sun?
Thank you!
It does die back and require cutting back. That being said, it grows back very quickly. You can check this post for some other options: https://growinginthegarden.com/arizona-vine-planting-guide-a-visual-guide-for-low-desert-vines/
Hi Angela do you ever grow you Coral vine over your trellises in your vegetable beds or, is it too risky that its roots may take over the bed?
Not usually. They don’t need overly rich soil and may not bloom as much if you grow it in your raised bed. If you try it, you will need to keep it corralled a bit as it grows but it would be pretty.
On what part of the plant does Coral Vine flower? I have mine growing against a block wall and I’ve thrown the top of the vine over the wall as it’s gotten taller but I’m now wondering if that’s a mistake because that may be where the blooms will end up?
Great question! Coral vine flowers on the new growth at the ends of the vines, which often means the flowers appear where the vine is reaching and actively growing—typically toward the top or outer edges.
So yes, if you’ve tossed the top of the vine over the wall, the blooms may end up on the other side where you can’t see them as easily. If you want to enjoy more flowers on your side, try gently training or looping the vine back toward you.