Moonflower Information
A relative of the morning glory (family Convolvulaceae), the moonflower has gathered renown for its beautiful blooms that open in the evening. Also called moonflower vine or moon vine, these attractive flowers grow on a vine. This plant creates a show when winding up a trellis or climbing over an arbor, which makes it an eye-catching addition to any warm landscape. Does this Spark an idea?
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Plant Description
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Much like the morning glory, the moonflower (Ipomoea alba) grows as a twining vine. Moonflower leaves also resemble the morning glory, as they are green and heart-shaped. They reach 4 to 8 inches long. Flower stems grow on the vine adjacent to the leaves. The moonflower vine can stretch over 15 feet long. However, unlike the morning glory, the moonflower does not fall under the category of invasive weed.
Flower Description
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As the vine grows, it produces a number of white flowers that span up to 6 inches across. The spiral buds that appear clustered together on each stem measure 4 inches long. Moonflower also emits a pleasant fragrance. Seedpods replace the flowers once they die. Harvest the pods when they turn black; inside lie large, white seeds that look like garbanzo beans.
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Bloom
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The flowers of this plant give it the name "Evening flower" as its buds open in the late afternoon and last only until morning. According to the University of Indiana, moonflower petals die after they open. This flower produces blooms from early summer until early fall. Moths pollinate these night-blooming flowers.
Growing Conditions
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This vine prefers full sunlight to grow and moist soil. A native subtropical plant, it thrives in very hot weather. On the USDA hardiness zones map, the moonflower grows best in zones 9 to 11. It works better to trellis this flower when growing it, unless you plant it for a groundcover. Unlike the morning glory, the moonflower is a non-aggressive and non-invasive plant. It grows both as a tender perennial in tropical climates and as an annual in cooler ones.
Pests and Diseases
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Like other members of Ipomoea, moonflower does not attract many pests or diseases. Diseases do include leaf spots, stem rots and rusts. Remedy a plant afflicted with one of these fungal diseases by spraying fungicide.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit moonflower image by Ace from Fotolia.com
