The Coral Vine is also called Chain
of Love, Cadena de Amor, Hearts on a Vine, Coral Bell, Queen’s Jewels, Chinese
Love Vine, San Miguelito Vine, Coralita, Honolulu Creeper, Mexican Creeper,
Rose of Montana Vine, Coral Vine, Confederate Vine, Sandwich Island Creeper,
etc. These lovely names all have that romantic ring to
it, don’t you think? In Malaysia it is known in Malay as ‘Air Mata
Pengantin’ i.e. ‘Tears of the Bride’!
For me personally the coral vine reminds me of a little humiliation I experienced in my childhood. I was then about 14 years old. My class teacher required everyone in the class to take turns to bring flowers for the vase on the teacher's table. My classmates would bring orchids, roses and other beautiful cut flowers that their mothers bought for them from florist shops. I know I would not ask my mother to do so because we were poor and could not afford that luxury. When it came to my turn I cut a bunch of coral vine from the bushes growing wild along the road to school. It was a very common plant then and normally found growing wild. "Who brought this?"... the class teacher shrieked..."throw it away". I was so very embarrassed I wished the ground would open up under my feet.
So the coral vine has some significance for me. Now that I have taken up gardening as a hobby I think I will try to grow it in my little garden.
