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Ipomoea purpurea is often confused with:
Ipomoea alba Flower
Vinca minor Vinca minor
Native alternative(s) for Ipomoea purpurea:
Ipomoea pandurata Ipomoea pandurata on fence
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Begonia grandis Begonia grandis flower
Ipomoea quamoclit Ipomea quamoclit
Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii Rhododendron minus var. Chapmanii

Ipomoea purpurea

Phonetic Spelling
eye-poh-MEE-a pur-PUR-ee-uh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

A naturalized weed in cultivated and fallow fields; sometimes sold as I. nil; self-seeds and can become invasive; many improved cultivars are available; seeds should be scarified and soaked in water for 12-24 hours to aid germination; prefers a well-drained, poor, sandy soil but is tolerant of most soil conditions.

 

More information on Ipomoea.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
  • 'Darling'
  • 'Giant Cornell'
  • 'Kermesiana'
  • 'Madame Ann'
  • 'Pearly Gates'
  • 'Rosea'
  • 'Scarlett'
  • 'Tricolor'
  • 'Violacea'
'Alba', 'Darling', 'Giant Cornell', 'Kermesiana', 'Madame Ann', 'Pearly Gates', 'Rosea', 'Scarlett', 'Tricolor', 'Violacea'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#nectar plant#specialized bees#self-seeding#pollinator plant#twining vine#flowers midsummer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#weed#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
  • 'Darling'
  • 'Giant Cornell'
  • 'Kermesiana'
  • 'Madame Ann'
  • 'Pearly Gates'
  • 'Rosea'
  • 'Scarlett'
  • 'Tricolor'
  • 'Violacea'
'Alba', 'Darling', 'Giant Cornell', 'Kermesiana', 'Madame Ann', 'Pearly Gates', 'Rosea', 'Scarlett', 'Tricolor', 'Violacea'
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#nectar plant#specialized bees#self-seeding#pollinator plant#twining vine#flowers midsummer#flowers late summer#flowers early fall#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#weed#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ipomoea
    Species:
    purpurea
    Family:
    Convolvulaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tropical & Subtropical America
    Wildlife Value:
    Members of the genus Ipomea support the following specialized bees: Melitoma taurea and Cemolobus ipomoeae.
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Globoid seed capsule 1/3" wide dark wedge-shaped seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    fused petals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    2" showy flowers (white, pink, crimson, purple, blue) open in the morning and last a few hours; flowers mid-summer to fall
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Medium green heart-shaped leaves with a pointed top smooth margins, long petioles
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Tetrate, brown-purple hairy stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Vertical Spaces
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Indole alkaloids (Lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine)
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No