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Native Plant Society of Texas

Carolina Snailseed

Cocculus carolinus

Other common name(s):

Carolina Moonseed

Family:

Menispermaceae (Moonseed Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Broken Red Plains, Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Semiarid Edwards Bajada
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Vine

Height

3
to
15
ft.

Spread

.5
to
1
ft.

Leaf Retention

Semi Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rich, Rocky

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium, High

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Riparian, Shrubland, Woodland, Woodland Edge

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Berry

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

Common throughout Texas. Grows in a variety of conditions. Spreads quickly and is short-lived. Low maintenance and drought tolerant. The root system is shallow and suckering. Best in a naturalistic garden area where its spreading habit is appreciated. Will need to be thinned in smaller areas so as not compete with other plants. Looks similar to Greenbriar, but no thorns. Native habitat: moist, rich woods, roadside thickets, rocky hillsides, limestone cliffs, woodland and shrub borders, along streams and ponds, fencerows, waste places.

Description

Blooms June-August. A thornless, twining vine with heart shaped leaves that are evergreen in its southern range. Flowers are small, greenish in color, forming in loose clusters. Male and female flowers appear on different plants. Produces clusters of bright red berries on female plants. Seeds are coiled in a the shape of a snail.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Epibaterium carolinum

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Remove the lower leaves, leaving only the top set. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone (optional) and plant the cuttings in a pot filled with a well-draining mix of perlite and peat moss. Keep the soil consistently moist and cover the pot with a plastic bag to create humidity. After several weeks, once roots have developed, carefully transplant the cuttings into individual pots or directly into the ground. The optimal time for taking cuttings is late spring or early summer when the vine is actively growing. Select healthy stems about 4-6 inches long that have at least two sets of leaves and cut just below a leaf node. https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-cocculus-carolinus/
Seed Stratification Seeds benefit from cold stratification, mimicking their natural winter dormancy. Place the seeds in a moist paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag and refrigerate for 6-8 weeks. Propagation can be easily done by seed planted after the last expected frost. Seeds may also be sown indoors in spring, after the last frost, in seed trays or small pots filled with well-draining potting mix. Place them about 1/4 inch deep and keep the soil consistently moist. Once seedlings develop a few sets of true leaves, they can be transplanted outdoors in a sunny or partially shaded location with well-drained soil. The plant will not usually produce fruit for the first few years after planting. Seeds are produced on the female plant. The "moonseeds" ripen in the fall, turning a beautiful deep purple. Collect berries and extract the seeds, ensuring to remove any pulp. 1) https://worldplants.ca/display.php?id=9677# 2) https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cocculus-carolinus/ 3) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-cocculus-carolinus/ 4) https://propagate.one/how-to-propagate-cocculus-carolinus/ 5) https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/moonseed-vine/growing-carolina-moonseed-for-birds.htm

About the Region

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This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason