Climbing Milkvine
Matelea obliqua

Height: up to 15 ft
Bloom Time: June
Sunlight: Full Sun to Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Medium, Dry, Very Dry
​Life Cycle: Perennial Vine

This delicate vine is non-aggressive and related to the milkweed species. Its 5-petaled maroon flowers bloom in June in cluster formations which are often round. The large leaves are heart-shaped, and its spiny seedpods resemble those of Common Milkweed and have the classic milkweed fluff. We've observed various Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars and late stage Monarch caterpillars feeding on the leaves of this species but have yet to see young caterpillars or monarch eggs laid on this plant. The vines die back to the ground each year. This species can be planted on a structure or on the ground in a habitat corridor where it can meander and grow up the stems of other plants. This specialized vine is uncommon in Virginia and grows naturally at low elevations in the mountains in areas with nutrient rich soil. Deer Resistant.