Cassytha ciliolata, commonly known as Devil’s Tresses, is a parasitic vine native to open woodlands, coastal dunes, and heathlands in the Cape Provinces (Eastern and Western Cape provinces) of South Africa. It exhibits rapid growth and can quickly envelop host plants with its slender, twining stems. Cassytha ciliolata produces small, greenish-yellow, inconspicuous flowers during the summer months. The flowers are generally not considered showy, but they are interesting from a botanical perspective due to their parasitic nature.

Devil’s Twine is not commonly cultivated due to its parasitic lifestyle, which can be detrimental to other plants. However, it may be studied for its unique ecological interactions and sometimes used in educational settings. In its native habitat, it plays a role in the ecosystem by transferring nutrients between plants and providing habitat for certain insects. When grown, it requires a host plant, as it is unable to photosynthesize sufficiently on its own. It prefers full sun to part shade and can adapt to a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, provided they have medium to fast drainage. Regular watering is necessary to support the host plant and, in turn, the vine itself.CC BY-SA 4.0