Cocculus carolinus
Cocculus carolinus · Menispermaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around cocculus carolinus and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Common name
- Carolina Moonseed, Carolina Menispermum
- Family
- Menispermaceae
- Form
- Perennial climbing vine
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- Summer (June to July)
- Fruits
- Coral-red berries in autumn
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to -15°C
- Origin
- United States (southeastern)
- Growth
- Moderate to vigorous
Care
Exposure and light
Plant your Cocculus carolinus in a sunny or partially shaded location for best fruiting. In partial shade it grows well but produces fewer spectacular berries. Avoid areas too exposed to drying winds.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season (spring-summer), keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the plant tolerates some dryness. In winter, reduce watering.
Soil and drainage
Grow this vine in well-drained, fertile soil that is slightly acidic to neutral. Adding compost or organic matter at planting time promotes root establishment. Make sure water doesn't pool around the roots.
Pruning and training
Prune in late winter or early spring to shape and control spread. Remove dead and crossing branches. The plant can be guided on a support (trellis, pergola) or left to spread freely if space allows.
Nutrition and fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring as growth resumes. Low-nitrogen fertilizer promotes flowering and fruiting. A surface application of compost in early spring is usually sufficient for established plants.
Health and pests
This plant is generally little affected by disease. Occasionally watch for spider mites indoors or in warm greenhouses, and scale insects. Good drainage and air circulation reduce the risk of rot. Little chemical intervention needed.
Did you know?
Cocculus carolinus is prized by North American landscapers for its spectacular autumn transformation: its small coral-red berries persist long on the bare plant, creating a remarkable graphic effect. This vine is also an important food source for migratory birds, who love it and naturally disperse its seeds.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Snake vineStephania japonica
- Cocculus orbiculatusCocculus orbiculatus
- MoonseedMenispermum canadense
- VelvetleafCissampelos pareira
- CamelliaCamellia japonica
- GrapevineVitis vinifera
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.