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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)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist

Light Requirement

Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green

Bloom Season

Summer

Seasonal Interest

Berry

Wildlife Benefit

Birds

Maintenance

Common throughout Texas. 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. Propagation: seed.

Comments

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

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason