Cat’s Claw

Scientific Classification & Quick Facts

Common name	Cat’s claw
Scientific name	Uncaria tomentosa
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Tracheophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Order	Gentianales
Family	Rubiaceae
Genus	Uncaria
Type	Woody climbing vine
Habitat	Tropical rainforest
Native range	Central and South America, including the Amazon
Colours	Yellow or pale orange trumpet flowers
Height	Up to 100 ft
Special feature	Thorns shaped like cat claws

Cats claw, scientifically known as Uncaria Tomentosa is a woody vine from the Rubiaceae family. This name is also used for other plants as well. In Peru, it is called Vilcacora and in Spanish, Uña de Gato. You can find this plant in the south and central part of America, growing in the tropical jungles. The plant got its name cats claw due to the shape of its thorns which are like claws. Cats claw is traditionally used in herbal medicine. The other names of this plant are sparrow hawk nail, pot hook, hawks claw, and the like.

History

Uña De Gato is the Spanish name for cat’s claw. This plant is a vine that clings to other trees and grows up to a 100 feet height. It has very sharp thorns on the body. It is native to the South and the Central American tropical rain forest. The American rain forest is the place where it is commercially produced. Many Brazilian and Peruvian villages live on the income that they earn from the harvest of cat’s claw.

Anatomy

Cat’s claw is a creeper and it has small, tubular, yellow flowers. You can see the flowers in yellow or pale orange color and they are in hairy form. We can see the flowers on the leaf axis in rounded clusters, and each flower is small and tubular. The fruit of the cat’s claw looks like a narrow capsule.

Habitat

We can see the cat’s claw plant in the rainforest of the Amazon. The habitat of the cat’s claw is restricted to the tropical regions of the Central and South America. We can see the leaves of the plant in an elliptical form. It has a very smooth edge and grows in opposite whorls.

Soil

Cat’s claw grows in many kinds of soil. A soil with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0 is well suited for it. Soil that is well drained, alkaline and infertile is also suitable for the cat’s claw to thrive. If the soil is organic, the cat’s claw will get root rot, as claimed, by the Las Pilitas Nursery..

Planting

If the plant has grown as tall as 50 cm, then it indicates that the plant is ready to be transplanted. Make sure you keep a distance of 6-8 m between each plant. You will need a well trained person nearby while you plant because the cat’s claw cannot support itself. After a height of 1m they need a support system to grow. You either need to give this plant an external support or you need to plant it at the foot of a tree or fence so that it can grow in their support. During the initial stage of planting, regularly pour enough water or else the plant will die. Make sure you plant it during the rainy season.

Watering

It is not necessary to water the cat’s claw regularly. Even if you water it once a month, it will be sufficient. Water the plant deeply and in a very slow manner. Apply water up to 10 inches to the young plant so that it will have a good amount of water, whereas the grown up plant is drought tolerant. If the temperature is too hot or if they are growing in the desert areas, a regular supply of water will be good because the sun may cause the leaves to burn.

Temperature

Cat’s claw is a tropical plant and does not tolerate frost. When the temperature is low, germination progresses very slowly. During cold and dry stress the general distribution is very much limited.

Uses

The wildlife and the bees are attracted by the nectar of the flowers and the birds love their seeds. The plant can be planted in gardens, but not too close to walkways because of their thorns.

Pests

Pests do not affect the cat’s claw much.

Related: Devil’s Claw

Cat’s claw FAQs