Good Vines for a Tropical Terrarium

Woody Climbing Vines

• A climbing vine that has the ability to grow in small confined spaces is the arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum). This woody plant forms juvenile leaves with a pointed arrowhead shape; upon maturing the foliage changes into deeply lobed leaves. Arrowhead vine propagates from cuttings and seed. Abuta (Cissampelos pareira) is a tropical woody climbing vine indigenous to Africa, Asia and the Americas. This tropical vine, or liana, has slender branches and simple dark green leaves that alternate along the stem.

Trailing Vines

• A long trailing vine, the columnea or goldfish plant (Columnea) grows to lengths of 24 to 48 inches. Columnea plants enjoy bright to moderate lighting, average to warm temperatures and humid conditions. This tropical species develops brilliant orange flowers in the shape of a goldfish that form in clusters. An ornamental trailing plant, the lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) has red blossoms that resemble tubes of lipstick when first in bloom. The lustrous green leaves make this vine an attractive foliage species. Lipstick plants originate from tropical regions in Asia.

Prostrate Vines

• One genus of tropical foliage plants, Peperomia, includes varieties that develop a prostrate vine; one such plant is false philodendron (Peperomia scandens). These herbaceous plants have succulent stems, rosette forms and low-growing vines. Peperomia plants have strict moisture requirements for soil and lighting. Spurred butterfly pea (Centrosema Virginianum) is a prostrate vine with a twining wood stem. This liana originates from tropical and subtropical areas in North America and South America. Spurred butterfly pea produces large, showy lavender flowers.

Herbaceous Climbing Vines

• English ivy (Hedera helix) is an ornamental plant native to regions in Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. This evergreen perennial climbing vine displays two types of leaves: juvenile and adult. The dark green, white-veined leaves have a leathery texture and grow in an alternate arrangement along the vine. Adult leaves develop a round to diamond shape and lack the lobes the juvenile foliage exhibits. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is an easy-to-grow, lengthy climbing vine. This native of the Solomon Islands has shiny heart-shaped foliage with yellow and white markings.