Muehlenbeckia Complexa, the Fairy Vine

Sometimes it’s the smallest things that catch our eye most readily. Take Muehlenbeckia complexa, the Fairy Vine: It gets noticed despite (or perhaps because of) its small size. Its very small leaves on wire-thin stems are spaced far enough apart that they create an airy look to the foliage… a pretty sight. This plant finds many uses in the hands of those who create tiny and whimsical fairy gardens. It is also appreciated by those who simply want a dainty houseplant.

Muehlenbeckia is a genus with tens of species—about “two tens” to be a little more specific. It is reported that, at present, five of these species grow in the wild only in New Zealand. There, those species grow very rapidly and can become rather big. Thus, depending on the species you know best, largely based on where you live in this wide world, you may not characterize Muehlenbeckia as either “small” or a “houseplant”. Rather, “shrub” may be the first word that comes to mind as you describe it, and you may visualize it growing quickly over rocks and rugged terrain, sprawling to cover ground… not so “small” at all.

But for most North American plant lovers who are familiar with Muehlenbeckia complexa, the plant is known for its ideal size for use in miniature displays, its attractiveness as a small houseplant, and its ability to bring greenery and textural interest (sort of a lacy look) to mixed container plantings to be enjoyed outdoors.

Uses in the Miniature Garden

As shared earlier, Muehlenbeckia complexa has many uses in the miniature garden, or fairy garden. This Fairy Vine climbs over tiny arbors or can be trained to form a loose “hedgerow” in front of a field mouse-sized house. Regardless of which creative way it is put to use to build fantastic tiny displays, Muehlenbeckia complexa can be maintained at a scale that is ideal for those who work in miniature. 

Uses in Creating Topiaries

The companion name to Fairy Vine is Wire Vine. This name comes as no surprise, as the dark and thin stems of Muehlenbeckia complexa look like thin bendable wires that support dark green leaves as their decoration. The forgiving nature of these wire-like stems allows for the stems and foliage to be positioned in whatever manner works best for the person creating a display. Some use this plant to create topiaries, wrapping the stems around true wire (metal wire) forms. Others train the stems up small tuteurs set on the surface of the soil in outdoor planters… you know, the small pyramids or obelisks that get covered in foliage with time, with a gardener’s talent, and with a well-chosen vining plant such as Muehlenbeckia complexa.

Uses as a Houseplant

Plant lovers who do not want to create fairy gardens or topiaries see the charm in using Muehlenbeckia complexa as a contrast to larger houseplants… no manipulating the plant, no training it into different shapes… just enjoying it in a plant pot.

Once the Fairy Vine has a little growth behind it and has reached a decent overall size while still maintaining very petite foliage, it can be used to provide contrast to a table display of larger houseplants. It also works well in an outdoor container display of greenery and flowering plants. Whereas some other plants with dainty foliage—take, for example, Soleirolia soleirolii, known as the Baby Tears plant—grow in carpeting fashion, sticking very close to the soil, Muehlenbeckia complexa has the sort of climbing habit which will allow it to achieve decent height as its wire-like stems vine up and out. If left in a plant pot with no structure to climb on, it provides an airy puff of foliage—an attractive mound of petite leaves that grow up toward the sun. This means that it need not take a front-row seat in a plant display in order for it to show. In fact, it shows quite well, and it does indeed catch the eye because it is so different. It provides a nice textural element (and typically a textural contrast) to any display. And it is easy to grow.

Growing Muehlenbeckia Complexa

“Easy to grow”… ah, that sounds good. So, what exactly is involved in growing Muehlenbeckia complexa…? Well, try to ensure that your plant gets the following:

• Sun (though not unrelenting direct sun)... instead, sun with a bit of shade for part of the day
• Soil that drains well, plus regular watering but without the threat of it resulting in soggy soil
• A little compost but not a whole lot of regular fertilizing
• Pruning (remember, it's a fast grower) or training as needed
• Dividing from time to time

Not a bad list, right? There’s nothing very “complexa” about this care regimen! (Bad pun intended… or actually, good pun intended; bad bun achieved….) But truly, we can have great success with this plant in return for very little effort.

So, whether you like to work in miniature or you don’t… whether you want a dainty houseplant, an airy addition to a mixed container, or a more sprawling outdoor plant which you can treat as an annual… you are likely to appreciate the daintiness and the different look of Muehlenbeckia complexa. We North Americans know it as a small plant with a great number of uses… and the ability to really catch the eye.