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Evolvulus alsinoides

Description

The Slender Dwarf Morning Glory is a flowering tropical, herbaceous perennial with showy blue flowers and thin, prostrate to erect, stems that can be woody. It is a small, dwarf, version of morning glory reaching a height of 1 foot, but usually less. The plant tends to spread horizontally on the ground, is dusty green in color with a wooly feel and can be weedy. The genus name comes from the Latin evolvo, meaning to unroll. The species name means resembling a species of the genus Alsine.

The Slender Dwarf Morning Glory is native to the southern and southwestern United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Alabama, and Florida. It is often found in coastal hammocks, coastal rock barrens, and disturbed areas.

Slender Dwarf Morning Glory has many branching stems that can become tangled and messy, resembling a bird's nest with dense, long, silver hairs all over.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#blue flowers#tropical perennials#spreading#herbaceous perennial#hairy leaves#hairy stems#tropical#weed#branching
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#blue flowers#tropical perennials#spreading#herbaceous perennial#hairy leaves#hairy stems#tropical#weed#branching
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Evolvulus
    Species:
    alsinoides
    Family:
    Convolvulaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The plant has been used as animal feed and as a medicine.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tropical South America, Africa, Southeast Asia.
    Distribution:
    Some southern United States.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Erect
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Globose, 4-valved, glabrous capsules, with 1 to 4 tan or brown ovoid seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Wheel
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Blooms are usually blue, although sometimes white and last from early spring to the fall. The flowers are wheel-shaped with rounded, sometimes cleft petals, to 1/3 of an inch wide, filaments are 2 to 3 times as long as the anthers, borne on slender, delicate pedicels arising from the leaf axils.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Oblong
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Ovate to elliptic leaves with obtuse, acute or acuminate tips, margins entire, alternate, pubescent to wooly, 1/3 to 3/4 inches long.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Slender, hairy stems that spread horizontally.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Hanging Baskets
    Rock Wall
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Small groups
    Problems:
    Weedy