Twinevine (Funastrum): A Native Perennial for Southwestern Gardens
If you’re looking to add some native charm to your garden but want something a bit off the beaten path, twinevine might just be the plant you never knew you needed. This native perennial herb goes by the botanical name Funastrum, and while it may not be the showiest plant in your garden center, it has some interesting qualities that make it worth considering for the right gardening situation.
What Exactly Is Twinevine?
Twinevine is a perennial forb – that’s gardening speak for a soft-stemmed plant that comes back year after year without developing woody growth like shrubs or trees. Think of it as the garden equivalent of that reliable friend who’s always there but doesn’t need to be the center of attention. As an herb-type plant, twinevine keeps its growing points at or below ground level, helping it survive through challenging seasons.
Where Twinevine Calls Home
This native beauty has quite the geographic spread across the American Southwest and beyond. You’ll find twinevine naturally growing in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. It’s also native to some U.S. territories including the Virgin Islands and Navassa Island, showing just how adaptable this plant can be to different climates and conditions.
Should You Plant Twinevine in Your Garden?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky – twinevine is one of those plants that’s more mystery than open book. While we know it’s a native perennial that won’t cause invasive problems in your garden, specific details about its growing requirements, appearance, and garden performance are limited in readily available sources.
What we can say is that as a native plant, twinevine is likely well-adapted to local growing conditions in its native range, which could make it a low-maintenance addition to naturalized gardens or native plant landscapes. Native plants typically require less water, fertilizer, and pest control once established, making them environmentally friendly choices.
Growing Twinevine Successfully
Given the limited specific growing information available for Funastrum as a genus, your best bet for success is to:
- Contact local native plant societies or extension offices in areas where twinevine grows naturally
- Visit botanical gardens or natural areas where you might observe the plant in its native habitat
- Start with a small trial planting to see how it performs in your specific garden conditions
- Consult with native plant nurseries that might have experience growing this species
The Bottom Line on Twinevine
Twinevine represents one of those fascinating native plants that hasn’t quite made it into the mainstream gardening world yet. If you’re an adventurous gardener who enjoys experimenting with lesser-known natives, and you live within its natural range, it might be worth tracking down. However, if you’re looking for a sure-thing native plant with well-documented growing requirements and garden performance, you might want to start with more thoroughly researched options and perhaps add twinevine to your someday list.
Remember, part of the joy of native gardening is discovering these hidden gems and learning about plants that have been quietly thriving in our landscapes long before we started paying attention to them. Twinevine might just surprise you – but be prepared for a bit of gardening detective work along the way!