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Cat's Claw

Uncaria guianensis
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Uncaria guianensis (Cat's Claw) — botanical photograph
Pl. C91C — Uncaria guianensis
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I

Overview

Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis), a woody vine native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, including countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela, thrives in light, full sun conditions with moist, well-drained soil that can be sandy or medium. This plant, part of the Rubiaceae family, is known for its edible parts, particularly the sap and stem, making it valuable as both an ornamental and food source. Cat's Claw is recognized for its large, showy flowers, often vibrant red or orange, which add a striking touch to any garden setting. While traditionally used for immune support, Cat's Claw should be used with caution and only as part of an overall health regimen, as PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

Quick answers

What is Cat's Claw?

Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis), a woody vine native to the tropical and subtropical regions of South America, including countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuela, thrives in light, full s

What is Cat's Claw used for?

Traditionally used for immune support. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.

Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Cat's Claw
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Benefits & evidence

1 claim · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • Traditional-use note: Cat's Claw appears in herbal sources around seasonal wellness traditions, often as a traditional preparation. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.

    Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.

IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Cat's Claw support blend
general
tea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivation

Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis) thrives in full sun and prefers moist, well-draining soil that is light (sandy) or medium. It is hardy in temperate regions, with a recommended zone of 10-12. This climbing vine can grow up to 30 meters, so provide it with a sturdy support. For cultivation, focus on harvesting the sap and stems, which are edible and have traditional uses for immune support. Note that Cat's Claw is native to several South American countries and is known for its role in seasonal wellness traditions.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium
Hardiness
10-12
Mature size
30.0 m tall
For first-time growers

How to grow Cat's Claw for the first time

8steps

Start with a simple, light-loving sapling for your first Cat's Claw experience.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    A young Cat's Claw plant and some basic gardening tools like pruners.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in spring when the weather is warm and stable.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Use a well-draining potting mix suitable for light soil conditions.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Transplant your Cat's Claw sapling into a large container with good drainage holes.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep the soil moist and place it in full sun, ensuring it gets plenty of light.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water regularly to maintain moisture levels but avoid overwatering. Provide ample sunlight.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune lightly to encourage bushy growth and remove any dead or damaged stems.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting in heavy soil, not providing enough light, and neglecting regular pruning.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:SapStem
Edible uses: Drink
Other uses:Lumber
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribution

13 native · 0 introduced
Distribution across1 continent· 13 native
Americas9 regions
native (9)BoliviaColombiaEcuadorFrench GuianaGuyanaParaguayPeruSurinameVenezuela
Broader regions
native:Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil West-Central, Trinidad-Tobago
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Uncaria guianensis (Cat's Claw) — botanical photograph
Cat's Claw (Uncaria guianensis)
X

See also

8 related
XI

Explore further

Companion planting
Growing zone
XII

About this entry

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