Muehlenbeckia complexa
Wire Vine, Necklace Vine, Maidenhair Vine, Angel Vine, Mattress Vine, Pohuehue, Wiggy-bush
A fast-growing, wiry vine from New Zealand, beloved for its dense tangle of slender dark stems and tiny, round leaves that create an intricate, lace-like texture. In the wild it scrambles across coastal scrub and rocky hillsides, making it well adapted to bright light and moderate — rather than soaking — moisture. In a container or open terrarium it stays compact and manageable, trailing softly over edges or weaving through structures. It does best with good air circulation and a well-draining substrate; consistently wet roots will cause rapid decline.

Care
Prefers medium humidity, indirect light, with 5–27 °C, and reaches 30 cm at maturity.
Light
Humidity
Temperature
Soil
Moisture
Soil pH
Propagation
Native range
Native to Australia and New Zealand.
Appearance
Growth habit
Leaf shape
Leaf texture
Frequently asked
Can Wire Vine grow in a closed terrarium?
Wire Vine prefers medium (40–60%) humidity, which is below the level a closed terrarium typically maintains. It is better suited to an open terrarium or houseplant setup.
Does Wire Vine need drainage?
Wire Vine prefers a moist substrate. Drainage is helpful but not critical; consistent moisture matters more.
What humidity does Wire Vine need?
Wire Vine does best in medium (40–60%) humidity.
How tall does Wire Vine grow?
Wire Vine typically reaches 10–30 cm at maturity.
How do you propagate Wire Vine?
Wire Vine can be propagated by stem cuttings or division or seeds.
References
- 1
Gardeners World — How to grow and care for Muehlenbeckia
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-and-care-for-muehlenbeckia/ - 2
Plantura — Muehlenbeckia overview
https://plantura.garden/uk/trees-shrubs/muehlenbeckia/muehlenbeckia-overview - 3
Guide to Houseplants — Muehlenbeckia complexa
https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/muehlenbeckia-complexa.html - 4
Kew Plants of the World Online — Muehlenbeckia complexa
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:694744-1 - 5
RHS — Muehlenbeckia complexa (necklace vine)
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/11221/muehlenbeckia-complexa/details - 6
PFAF — Muehlenbeckia complexa plant database
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Muehlenbeckia+complexa - 7
GardenBeast — Angel Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) care guide
https://gardenbeast.com/angel-vine-guide/ - 8
Swell Reptiles — Maidenhair Vine terrarium suitability
https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/maidenhair-vine-muehlenbeckia-complexa - 9
Wikipedia — TDWG region codes (Norfolk Island → level-2 parent Australia, code 50)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_codes_used_in_the_World_Geographical_Scheme_for_Recording_Plant_Distributions