Moonseed

Menispermum

Menispermum canadensis ( Common Moonseed )
A fast growing, twining perennial vine that is woody towards the base. It reaches a maximum height of 27 ( rarely over 15 ) feet. It is native to rich woods and bottomlands in eastern North America ( from central North Dakota to southern Manitoba to central Wisconsin to Manitoulin Island to Ottawa, Ontario to southeast Quebec; south to central Oklahoma to northern Georgia ). In the Windsor/Essex County, Ontario region; it was abundant along the Canard River Valley, around Point Pelee, the Lake Erie islands as well as the Ohio shore during the 1800s. It was also abundant at Detroit during that time. It can be used for its attractive tropical looking foliage on a lattice or trellis.
The shallowly-lobed, rounded leaves are up to 10 x 7 inches in size.
The flowers are tiny and not very noticable.
The black berries that follow are NOT edible.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, well drained soil. It does tolerate temporary flooding. At the northern portion of it's range including at Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Ontario as well as in southern Sask and Manitoba; it dies back to the ground each winter behaving as a perennial.

* photos taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photos taken on July 16 2016 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on July 9 2022 in Bayfield, ON

* photo taken on Aug 16 2024 in Bayfield, ON

Menispermum dauricum ( Asian Moonseed )
A deciduous to semi-evergreen, perennial vine, reaching up to 15 feet, that is native from eastern Siberia to Kamchatka; south to China and Japan.
The large, 3 to 5 lobed, heart-shaped to rounded leaves are up to 6 x 8 inches in size. The blue-green foliage is smaller than that of our native Menispermum canadensis.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 ( 3 on protected sites ) in full sun to partial shade. While further testing is needed, it will likely thrive on the Canadian Prairies if grown as a perennial. It is clay tolerant.

* historic archive photo