About

Nephroia carolina, commonly called the Carolina coralbead, snailseed, Carolina Moonseed, or Margil's Vine, is a perennial vine of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in northeastern Mexico and in several states in the United States from the Southeast to the Midwest.

The species' common name derives from the appearance of its small, rounded red fruits, and the rough half-moon shape of its seeds.

How to grow it

The flowers are small and plentiful. At a young age Carolina coralbead appear greenish. The seeds need cold stratification of three months. Seeds germinate in 21 to 30 days at 68 °F. The plant blooms in late spring and the fruits, abundant bright red berries, are mature by late summer. Admiring its scarlet fruits, landscapers sometimes allow it to grow on trellises, fences or let it naturally spread among other weeds and shrubs.

This plant can be fast-growing and difficult to eradicate.

Where it grows

This species is native from northern Florida to Mexico, north to North Carolina, Kentucky, southern Illinois and southeast Kansas. Its natural habitat is in rocky woodlands and streamside thickets, particularly in calcareous areas. It is a weedy species, and can also be found in disturbed habitats such as fencerows and waste areas.

Other Cocculus plants

Coralbead · Cocculus hirsutus · Coralbead · Snailseed · Queen Coralbead · Coralbead · Laurel Leaf Snailseed