Vine milkweed, Gulf Coast swallowwort
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Seutera angustifolia
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Apocynaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also butterfly gardens in wet brackish areas along the coast. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Most common in tidal marshes, where its occurrence is somewhat sporadic. |
Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts. |
Description: |
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Scrambling or twining vine with narrow leaves. |
Height: |
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N/A; vine with stems to 10 feet or more in length. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate to fast. |
Range: |
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Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico and Central America. |
Habitats: |
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Tidal marshes, coastal thickets and marl prairies. |
Soils: |
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Wet to moist, poorly-drained to periodically inundated brackish or freshwater soils. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Greenish-white. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
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Spring-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Slender pod with wind dispersed seeds. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Rarely a larval host plant for queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies; a possible larval host for soldier (Danaus eresimus) butterflies. Nectar plant for butterflies and other insects. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed or cuttings. |
Comments: |
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The sap is white. |
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