Tropical White Morning-Glory
Ipomoea alba
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central American Pacific Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Uruguay, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Benjamin Graves (www.flickr.com) from Sasebo, Japan
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Genus:
- Ipomoea
- Species:
- Ipomoea alba
- USDA Symbol:
- IPAL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pink-spotted hawk moth (Agrius cingulata), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Lantanophaga pusillidactylus, Pink-spotted hawk moth (Agrius cingulata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- sphinx moths, nocturnal pollinators
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers fertile soils in tropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 5–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarify or soak seeds 24 hours in warm water before planting. Requires warm soil temperatures (70-85°F) for best germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires scarification. | Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.