Kangaroo Vine

Cissus antarctica is native to the rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests of eastern Australia, from northern Queensland south through New South Wales to eastern Victoria, where it grows as an understory climber.

• One of the earliest Australian plants adopted as a houseplant — it was being grown in European glasshouses by the mid-19th century
• The species name antarctica refers to the "Antarctic" or southern distribution of the plant, not to the continent of Antarctica
• Valued by the Victorian-era houseplant craze for its ability to survive in the dim, coal-heated interiors of 19th-century homes
• The genus Cissus is one of the largest in the grape family (Vitaceae) with approximately 350 species
• In Australia, the plant is sometimes called "Water Vine" because the stems can be a source of drinking water in emergencies — the succulent stems yield sap when cut
• Has been used in traditional Aboriginal medicine for treating skin complaints
• The plant has proven so reliable as an indoor specimen that it remains a commercial staple of the interior plantscape industry more than 150 years after its introduction to cultivation

Kangaroo Vine is an evergreen woody climber with wiry stems and leathery foliage, typically growing 1.5–3 m long in cultivation, though it can reach 5+ m in its native habitat.

Stems: Slender, wiry, woody with age, green to brownish-green, producing tendrils opposite the leaves. Young stems and growing tips are covered with rusty-brown hairs. tendrils are forked.

Leaves: Simple, ovate to broadly lanceolate, 5–12 cm long and 2.5–6 cm wide, with regularly toothed (serrate) margins and a pointed tip. Texture is leathery and tough, dark glossy green above, paler green beneath with rusty-brown hairs along the veins. New leaves emerge with a distinctive bronze or reddish tint before maturing to dark green.

Flowers: Small, greenish-yellow to cream, produced in small cymes opposite the leaves in summer. Individually inconspicuous. Rarely produced on indoor specimens.

Fruit: Small, round berries, green ripening to black, approximately 6–8 mm in diameter. Rarely produced indoors.

Roots: Fibrous root system. Stems can root at nodes where they contact soil.

Kangaroo Vine grows naturally in the understory of subtropical and temperate rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests along the eastern Australian coast, from sea level to about 1,000 m elevation.

• Naturally adapted to low-light rainforest understory conditions — this explains its exceptional tolerance of indoor lighting
• Found growing on trees, rocks, and forest floor in its native habitat, using tendrils to climb toward gaps in the canopy
• Tolerates a range of moisture conditions from consistently moist rainforest soils to somewhat drier forest margins
• The leathery leaf texture is an adaptation to the periodic dry spells that can occur even in rainforest habitats
• Associates with other rainforest species including strangler figs, coachwood, and tree ferns in its natural communities
• Remarkably resistant to most common houseplant pests and diseases
• Cold-tolerant for a tropical vine — survives brief exposure to temperatures near 0°C
• In the wild, provides habitat for various rainforest invertebrates

Kangaroo Vine is virtually indestructible as a houseplant and is ideal for difficult indoor locations.

Light: Low to bright indirect light. Tolerates very low light conditions that would kill most plants. Avoid direct afternoon sun. North-facing windows are fine.

Soil: Standard potting mix. Any well-draining medium works — this plant is not fussy. pH 5.5–7.0.

Watering: Allow the top few centimeters of soil to dry between waterings. Can tolerate irregular watering and short drought periods. Overwatering causes root rot. Reduce watering in winter.

Temperature: 10–27°C. Can tolerate brief periods near 0°C but not prolonged cold. Avoid hot, dry locations near heating vents.

Humidity: Tolerates dry indoor air but appreciates occasional misting. Not demanding.

Fertilization: Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Withhold fertilizer in fall and winter.

Pruning: Pinch growing tips to encourage branching. Trim overly long stems. Pruned sections root easily in water.

Support: Provide a small trellis, moss pole, or allow to trail from a hanging basket. tendrils will wrap around thin supports.

Propagation: Very easy from stem cuttings rooted in water or moist potting mix. Root in 2–3 weeks.

Pests: Very resistant. Occasional mealybugs or spider mites in hot, dry conditions.