Mucuna bennettii - Red Jade Vine

Red Jade Vine is the most eye catching vine one would ever see. It produces pendant racemes of bright scarlet, claw-shaped flowers that dangle in chandelier-like clusters measuring 90-120 cm long. Each raceme is a waterfall of numerous vibrant blooms that ooze nectar, drawing birds from afar. This is a robust, woody climber that grows rapidly and achieves a remarkable size, necessitating a sturdy tree, pergola, or trellis for support. In the tropical and subtropical climate of India, it thrives outdoors throughout the year, and a well-established vine in full bloom is truly one of the most stunning sights in the plant kingdom. The leaves are glossy, bright green, and trifoliate, consisting of three oval-shaped leaflets. Each leaflet is oval, smooth, and can grow up to 15 cm long. Red Jade Vine comes from Maluku, New Guinea, Solomon Is., Sulawesi, Vanuatu in SE Asia, popularly cultivated in Kerala.