Scarlet Creeper Ipomoea coccinea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- eye-poh-MEE-ah kok-SIN-ee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Scarlet Creeper is an annual, flowering, herbaceous vine in the morning glory family. It is native to Mexico and the eastern and central United States (although its status as a US native plant is questioned by some authorities) and is typically found along streambanks, roadsides, fields, and thickets. It is a fast growing, attractive plant with heart-shaped (occasionally lobed) leaves and bright red flowers with a yellow throat. It does have a reputation for escaping from cultivation into moist soil and waste places and has been found as far north as Massachusetts and Michigan.
Scarlet Creeper does best in full sun or partial shade, tolerates average to poor soil, and is drought tolerant. It is an aggressive climber on fences or trellis and, left to its own devices, will spread in the garden. To plant, nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight before planting.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No major pest or disease problems of note; however the plant can reseed readily in warmer climates and may become problematic if the seedlings are left unchecked.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ipomoea
- Species:
- coccinea
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico, Eastern and Central United States
- Wildlife Value:
- Scarlet creeper is a food source for songbirds and hummingbirds. Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from August until the first frost. Attracts butterflies.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Light brown fruit displays from September to December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Raceme
- 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:
- Small number of red flowers, often with a yellow throat, bloom from August to frost in a short cluster at the end of long axillary peduncles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and half as wide, broadly ovate and deeply cordate at base; margin entire or sometimes coarsely toothed or angularly lobed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
