Common moonflowers, Moonflowers
Ipomoea alba
Convolvulaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by a few native plant nurseries in central and northern Florida.
Description:
Twining, high climbing herbaceous vine.
Height:
N/A; a twining vine with stems 15 feet or more in length. Often drapes over other vegetation forming large mats.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to Volusia, Putnam, Alachua and Levy counties; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and Old World tropics.
Habitats:
Hammock and swamp edges.
Soils:
Moist to seasonally inundated, well-drained to moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy, but open mostly at night.
Flowering Season:
All year.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Frequently recruits in disturbed areas that have recently burned.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed or cuttings.
Comments:
Can become aggressive and dificult to control in the garden; caution is urged.


Roger L. Hammer
Magha García Medina, 2015;Agrandar.
Magha García Medina, 2015; Agrandar.
James Johnson, 2014
In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
George D. Gann
In habitat, Tree Tops Park
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton

Keith A. Bradley