Family: Fabaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Mucuna bennettii (New Guinea creeper, red jade vine, scarlet jade vine) is a striking tropical vine native to Sulawesi through Vanuatu in the western Pacific. It is best known for its spectacular cascading clusters of bright orange-red, claw-shaped flowers that can hang over a meter long in ideal conditions. The plant is a vigorous woody climber with large, lush green leaves and can quickly cover trellises, arbors, and large support structures. It is primarily grown as an ornamental vine in tropical and subtropical gardens, valued for its dramatic floral display and ability to provide dense, attractive greenery.

Risks & Threats
This species is considered low risk and is not known to be invasive in Hawaii. While it is a fast-growing vine that can become quite large, it does not typically spread aggressively outside of cultivation or displace native ecosystems. In garden settings, it may require regular pruning and strong support structures to keep it contained and prevent it from overwhelming nearby plants. With responsible cultivation, Mucuna bennettii can be a safe and highly ornamental addition to landscapes without posing significant ecological threats.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Related species have become invasive
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Climbing vine may smother other vegetation
  
• Fruits usually clothed with stinging hairs
  
• Tolerates repeated pruning
  
• Lack of good information on ecology of seed dispersal makes accurate risk prediction difficult

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of naturalization or invasiveness elsewhere
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value
  
• May require specialized pollinators to produce seed (may limit seed set in cultivation)