Ivyleaf Morning Glory
Ipomoea hederacea · Herbaceous Vine, Deciduous, Broadleaf
Plant Family
Convolvulaceae
Tree Category
Vining Weed, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type species
Hardiness Zones
Typically grown as an annual in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10, surviving year-round only in frost-free tropical climates
About This Tree
A climbing or trailing herbaceous annual vine featuring twining stems that can reach several feet in length. It produces funnel-shaped, light purple to blue flowers with paler throats and deeply three-lobed, ivy-like green leaves, often becoming an aggressive weed in agricultural fields and disturbed habitats.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate leaves, typically 2 to 4 inches long, deeply divided into three lobes resembling ivy leaves (hence the name), though some lower leaves may be unlobed and heart-shaped. Margins are entire, and texture is somewhat hairy.
Bark Characteristics
Stems are herbaceous, slender, green to reddish-brown, often covered in fine bristly hairs, and do not develop true woody bark.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Tropical America, widely naturalized throughout the warm temperate and tropical regions of the United States including Louisiana
Growing Season
Warm-season annual vine that germinates in spring, grows rapidly through summer, flowers from mid-summer until the first fall frost, and dies back with freezing temperatures
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal flowering and growth. Prefers moist, well-drained soils but exhibits moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Vining habit with a length or height climbing capacity of 6 to 10 feet or more, with a fast growth rate and a single-season lifespan.
Special Characteristics
Known for rapid germination and growth, prolific seed production, high adaptability to disturbed soils, and attractive trumpet-shaped flowers that open in the morning.
Wildlife & Ecology
Attracts numerous pollinators including bumblebees, honeybees, and butterflies with its nectar. The seeds are consumed by certain birds and small mammals, though the plant can sometimes smother native vegetation.
Notes
Vine in Louisiana