Butterfly Vine
Mascagnia macroptera
Pickup currently unavailable at Aiken Nursery
Mascagnia macroptera, the butterfly vine, is a Mexican native climber grown for one of the most charming novelties in the plant world: seed pods shaped exactly like butterflies. Each pod is a pair of papery wings, chartreuse-green at first and drying to tan, so a vine in fruit looks as though a flock of little green and brown butterflies has settled among the leaves.
The pods are the second act. First come loose clusters of showy, five-petaled yellow flowers, faintly orchid-like in form, bright against the glossy foliage through the warm months. The vine climbs by twining, quickly covering a fence, trellis, or arbor, and belongs to the mostly tropical Malpighiaceae, a family known for exactly this kind of winged fruit; the epithet macroptera means large-winged, a nod to those butterfly pods.
Butterfly vine is as tough as it is pretty. The plant stays evergreen down into the twenties and turns deciduous where winters run colder; in borderline areas the top may freeze to the ground, then resprout in spring from a crown protected with mulch. Heat, sun, and drought are all shrugged off, though the vine responds happily to regular water with faster growth and heavier bloom.
Give butterfly vine well-drained soil in full sun to light shade and a fence, trellis, or arbor to twine upon, and the plant repays the spot with months of yellow flowers, a long show of butterfly pods, and almost no trouble. Few vines offer so much whimsy for so little care, and the drying pods are wonderful in everlasting arrangements. An easy, unusual climber for a warm-climate garden.
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 8–10
- Sun
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Soil
- Well-drained
- Mature size
- Height 12–20 Feet · Spread 6–10 Feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Seasonality
- Semi-Evergreen
Showy yellow, orchid-like flowers in warm months; chartreuse butterfly-shaped seed pods aging tan
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.