Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Saturday - May 12, 2012
From: San Diego, CA
Region: California
Topic: Plant Identification, Vines
Title: Unusual vine in San Diego County, California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. or Ms. Smarty Pants, I came across an unusual vine winding through a young Zumaque growing off the edge of a mesa in San Diego (coastal sage scrub). The small (fingernail-sized)leaves roughly resembling poison oak in outline, but more the bright color of a grape leaf and not shiny. Leaves alternated sides along the vine. The flowers (diameter of a quarter) each had two downy white 'antennae' and white medusa-like petals curling out in all directions. Nothing like the wild cucumber, invasive nasturtium, wild grape, gourd, clematis vines I see. (GPS: 32.870207,-117.180723)ANSWER:
After an extensive search, the closest match for your vine in San Diego County that I could find is Lonicera subspicata (Southern honeysuckle). Here is more information from Calflora. Here are more photos from CalPhotos, University of California, Berkeley and Calflora. Here is the description from the Jepson Herbarium of the University of California, Berkeley.
If this isn't the vine you saw, you can see an extensive list of vines that grow in San Diego County, California (native and introduced) in the USDA Plants Database. Choose "Advanced Search" from the sidebar. On the "Advanced Search" page under Part A. 1. Distribution select "California: San Diego" from County Distribution. Under Part A. 2. Taxonomy check the "Display" box by National Common Name (the Scientific Name is displayed by default). Under Part A. 3. Ecology select "Vine" under Growth Habit and also click the box for "Display". Scroll to the bottom of Part A and click on "Display Results".
Also, if you have a photo of the plant, you can visit our Plant Identification page to find links to several Plant Identification Forums that will accept photos for identification.
More Vines Questions
Invasive mandevilla from Chula Vista CA
December 10, 2012 - How can I rid my yard of mandevilla that has invaded from my neighbor's yard?
view the full question and answer
Flowers for monarch butterflies in Bastrop, Gonzales and Travis Counties of Texas
March 05, 2013 - Hi Mr./s. Smarty Plants,
What are some flowers that grow naturally on a Bastrop, Travis, or Gonzales county riverside that monarch butterflies commonly feed on?
Thank you
view the full question and answer
Native, non-invasive vines for wall cover in California
June 14, 2007 - I live on the Central Coast in California. I have a stucco garage wall, which receives full sun, and faces West. I would like to plant a climbing vine to cover the wall, and was considering a clim...
view the full question and answer
When to prune Texas Coral Honeysuckle in Iredell, TX?
January 31, 2012 - When can I prune Texas coral honeysuckle? It needs to be pruned so that it will fill out. Also, how much do I prune it?
Thank you,
view the full question and answer
Flowering Shade Plant for California
February 21, 2016 - I have a house north facing that has a "flower bed" in front that unfortunately is shaded 100% of the time. There are roses in the bed currently (they came with the house) but they do poorly. We are...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |