This species is utilized for its edible tubers and seeds, but also for its horticultural properties as an ornamental vine in warmer parts of the world.

[5] It is also present as a native roadside weed and ornamental for fencerows,[7] and can be seen prominently along Mexican Federal Highway 1 near the Sierra de la Giganta.

[3]: 196  Phylogenetic analysis of plants outside of the native range suggest that A. leptopus was introduced multiple times from different seed sources.

The preferred habitats of introduced A. leptopus includes disturbed areas, forest edges, roadsides, coral cliffs, limestone soils, along banks, and in waste places.

The seeds were toasted by placing them in a flat basket made of flexible twigs which was torn into strips and woven to make a solid surface.

Afterwards, the seeds were separated from the husks from which they had emerged by tossing them into the air with the basket, similar to the method used in winnowing wheat in Spain.

[10] Invasion of Antigonon leptopus on the Caribbean island of St. Eustatius significantly increased arthropod abundance and caused biotic homogenization.

Specifically, uninvaded arthropod communities that were distinctly different in species composition between developed and natural sites became undistinguishable after A. leptopus invasion.

Increased coverage of A. leptopus leads to a significant decrease in the abundance of predatory lizards of the genus Anolis.