Muehlenbeckia complexa

Wire Vine, Necklace Vine, Maidenhair Vine, Angel Vine, Mattress Vine, Pohuehue, Wiggy-bush

Easy careTerrestrial1030 cm

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.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Wire Vine image

Care

Prefers medium humidity, indirect light, with 5–27 °C, and reaches 30 cm at maturity.

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Bright indirect

Humidity

Medium (40–60%)(preferred)Low (30–40%)High (60–80%)

Temperature

0°C20°C40°C
5°C27°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)LoamySandy

Moisture

Moist(preferred)Dry

Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Propagation

Take semi-ripe stem tip cuttings 5–8 cm long in late summer to early autumn. Insert into a mix of perlite and potting compost with bottom heat. Cuttings root reliably within 4–6 weeks.

Native range

Native to Australia and New Zealand.

Appearance

Growth habit

TrailingClimbingCreeping

Leaf shape

Round

Leaf texture

Smooth

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. 1
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  3. 3

    Guide to Houseplants — Muehlenbeckia complexa

    https://www.guide-to-houseplants.com/muehlenbeckia-complexa.html
  4. 4

    Kew Plants of the World Online — Muehlenbeckia complexa

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:694744-1
  5. 5

    RHS — Muehlenbeckia complexa (necklace vine)

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/11221/muehlenbeckia-complexa/details
  6. 6

    PFAF — Muehlenbeckia complexa plant database

    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Muehlenbeckia+complexa
  7. 7

    GardenBeast — Angel Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) care guide

    https://gardenbeast.com/angel-vine-guide/
  8. 8

    Swell Reptiles — Maidenhair Vine terrarium suitability

    https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/maidenhair-vine-muehlenbeckia-complexa
  9. 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