Moonflower Ipomoea alba
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Calonyction aculeatum
- Ipomoea bona-nox
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-poh-MEE-ah AL-ba
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Moonflower is a tender, low-maintenance, perennial vine grown as an annual in North Carolina. It gets its common names from its fragrant, nocturnal, white flowers, which open rapidly over the course of a few minutes. It is a member of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). The species epithet is Latin for "white."
Plant in locations with well-draining clay, loam, or sandy soil that receive full sun. Moonflower can grow to 15 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in width. The vines will grow slowly until the weather becomes very warm, at which time their growth rate becomes rapid. Propagate by seeds. Start 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost by soaking seeds overnight in warm water or nick with a file to break the seed coat.
Since Moonflower is a vertical climbing vine, it needs a support structure like a fence, arbor, or trellis to grow. The plant has 8-inch, heart-shaped leaves and large white trumpet-shaped flowers that open at night and provide a sweet fragrance. Plant it in a cottage, patio, night-time, or pollinator garden where you can fully enjoy the beauty and scent of the showy white flowers while you watch the aerial show of moths as they pollinate the blooms. It is a host plant for the Hummingbird moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) as well as Sphinx moth (sphingidae). If you would like to overwinter the plant, then grow it in a large container and bring it indoors over the winter.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Belle de Nuit'
- 'Giant White'
- 'Belle de Nuit'
- 'Belle de Nuit', 'Giant White'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Belle de Nuit'
- 'Giant White'
- 'Belle de Nuit'
- 'Belle de Nuit', 'Giant White'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ipomoea
- Species:
- alba
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Florida, Mexico, Central and South America
- Distribution:
- Introduced into Texas and Oklahoma, sections of Africa and southeast Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar from flowers attracts night-flying moths. Members of the genus Ipomea support the following specialized bees: Melitoma taurea and Cemolobus ipomoeae.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Climbing Method:
- Scrambler
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Small capsule with acuminate (pointed) tip 1" long split open and contain 4 smooth white seeds
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Six inch large, fragrant 5-lobed, fused-petaled white flowers with a light green star center that open late afternoon and close at dawn from mid-summer into fall.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Deep green alternate heart-shaped to rounded-ovate 4 to 8 inches long with entire or slightly lobed margins. Petioles are thick and even sometimes fleshy.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are hairless but some of the climbing stems have projections. Twining stems produce a milky juice when cut and are somewhat prickly
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Patio
- Rock Wall
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
