Moonflower Vs Morning Glory Vine: Grow, ID Types of Moonflower Vines

The Moon Flower vine is one of more than 600 species of Ipomoea,¹⁴ several of which are better known than itself. Yet, it has its own claim to fame, as the following Moonflower facts demonstrate:^{9, 10, 16, 23}

• The Moonflower vine has some of the largest and most fragrant flowers, and it is part of a small group of flowering plants with types of white flowers that bloom only at night.
• Around dusk, the flowers of Ipomoea alba can open to their full diameter in under a minute.¹¹
• It is not just coincidence or idiosyncrasy that lead to the development of Moonflower’s night-blooming habit. The flowers open at night so that their nocturnal pollinators, primarily various types of moths, can access the reproductive parts.
• The tropical white morning glory is a close relative of Ipomoea batatas,²⁰ commonly known as sweet potato.²⁶
• The juice of the Moonflower vine was used by Mesoamerican civilizations to increase the elasticity of latex from Castilla elastica to create rubber balls.²⁸
• Moonflower symbolism has taken on many forms through the years, but this plant is most commonly associated with the ideas of femininity, enlightenment, mystery, and love.

Why Is Ipomoea alba Called the Moon Vine?

Ipomoea alba became known as the Moon vine or Moonflower due to the nature of its blossoms.¹¹ The flowers open in the evening and remain open throughout the night, beneath the light of the moon.

Furthermore, the blooms of I. alba are large,¹¹ white, and rounded, resembling the appearance of the moon.¹⁰

Moonflower Vine vs. Moonflower Bush

The Moonflower vine is sometimes confused with a similar but unrelated plant which goes by the same common name: Moonflower. Datura,²⁹ a genus in the potato or nightshade family, Solanaceae,³⁰ is made up of a handful of species of moderately to highly poisonous plants which also produce large, trumpet-shaped flowers.

One species, the Sacred Datura (Datura wrightii),⁶ has beautiful, white, night-blooming flowers which are easily confused with those of I. alba. D. wrightii has a sprawling,^6,11 bushier form than the Moonflower vine, however, and this “Moonflower bush” can be grown as a perennial in temperate and subtropical United States.^6,24

Best Growing Conditions for Moonflower

The best growing conditions for Moonflower are hot, humid climates and neutral, well-draining soil in full sun conditions. Moonflower thrives in temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when nighttime temperatures do not fall below 60 degrees.¹⁸

(Image: nana10³⁴)

When growing in the home garden, placement of Moonflower is the most important consideration. Remember that this plant is a climbing vine and should be planted where it can vine around stakes or designated structures.

With proper planning, it can be used to create lovely, natural borders and designs.

Moonflower Growing Zone

As a tropical vine, Ipomoea alba flourishes in warm to hot, humid climates where it can grow all year long and may be treated as a perennial. In its native habitat, Moonflower growing zones range from USDA zones 10 through 12 (See USDA Plant Hardiness Zones Map).

In other words, U.S. growing zones for Moonflower (where to grow as a perennial in the U.S.) are limited to the southern tips of Florida, Texas, and California, as well as the state of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Note that many gardeners will elect to grow the Moonflower as an annual in temperate climates, and its fast-growth makes this feasible. While Moonflowers can be grown in zones as cool as 3 and 4, the growing season will be truncated.¹⁸

Growing a Moonflower From a Seed, Cutting, or Seedling

Growing a Moonflower from a seed, cutting or seedling in a backyard garden should be relatively straightforward. The easiest way to propagate Moonflower is by seed, and the seeds can use a little assistance with germination.

The thick seed coat should be nicked using a knife, file, or clippers to speed the stratification process. The seeds are then soaked overnight in warm water.

After that the seeds can be planted in a growing medium indoors or directly in the ground and kept evenly moist until the seeds germinate in one to three weeks.⁵

Once established, the watering needs for Moonflower plants vary depending on climate. In tropical climates, they require less watering, as humidity in the air nourishes them.

In drier climates they may require watering twice a week up to twice a day depending on air temperature. A good rule of thumb is to water Moonflower whenever the soil is dry to the touch.

Always water the base of the plants in the early morning or evening hours to prevent scorching.⁵

Container gardening may not be ideal for Moonflowers, as their vining habit will lead them to climb or travel away from the container. If deciding to grow a Moonflower in a container, consider how it can be staked to create an attractive display.

Ensure that containers are large and have adequate drainage holes.

When To Plant Moonflower Seeds

Deciding when to plant Moonflower seeds will depend on the growing zone. In tropical or subtropical climates, seeds can be directly planted into the ground when nighttime temperatures are consistently at or above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Image: tonyblake³⁵)

In colder climates, it can be a bit trickier to nail down when to plant Moonflower for the best yield. Remember that it has to be after the last frost, so late spring is a pretty safe bet.

Many gardeners in northern climates will elect to start their Moonflower seeds indoors in early spring and transplant them outdoors in late spring.⁵

How To Plant Moonflower Seeds

Some tricks for how to stratify, how to germinate, and how to plant Moonflower seeds were discussed above. Other planting tips for Moonflower growers living in cooler climates are to start the seeds in peat pots indoors in late winter/early spring.

The reason for doing this is that the peat pots can be planted directly into the ground to ease the transition for the Moonflower plant roots in late spring.⁵

As for how far apart to plant Moonflower, it is recommended that seeds be started at least 6 inches apart, then thinned to 12 inches at the seedling stage and 6 feet or more for maturing plants.¹¹

Companion Plants For Growing Moonflower

The best companion plants for growing Moonflower depend upon the garden design and the gardener’s goals. For example, a gardener building a moon garden of night-flowering plants may want to pair Moonflowers with other night bloomers that have similar environmental needs, such as flowering tobacco, evening primrose, four o’clock alba, and night-blooming jasmine.

(Image: 6493990³⁶)

For landscape gardening using vines and shrubs to create natural borders, day-blooming Ipomoea species, such as the cypress vine and common morning glory make excellent counterparts.⁵

Moonflower can also be the perfect addition to a fragrant garden with gardenias, roses, mock orange, and honeysuckle.

How To Stop Moonflower Disease

Moonflower plants are not exceedingly prone to disease, but they may be impacted by common diseases such as black rot, stem canker and rust which usually occur when a plant is overwatered or receives poor air circulation.⁵

Moonflower disease prevention begins with proper spacing, testing and amending soil as needed, watering sufficiently, and pruning back surrounding plant life as needed to prevent overgrowth and crowding. Knowing how to stop Moonflower disease depends in large part on the disease, but in many cases, it is nigh impossible to rescue a plant that has a serious fungal or bacterial infection such as those mentioned above.

Mild disease can sometimes be addressed by pruning and disposing of damaged and diseased plant parts or by applying fungicides. In more severe cases, the best option is often to remove the plant entirely to prevent spread to nearby flora.

Remember that Moonflower is pretty low maintenance and does not often succumb to disease when the plant is otherwise healthy.²²

Some common pests of the Moonflower include two-spotted spider mites, leaf beetles, aphids, whiteflies, and leaf miners. For natural pest control for Moonflower, early detection is critical.

When a pest problem is identified early on, insects at all life stages (egg, larva, nymph, adult) can be removed manually, and natural treatments such as insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils can be applied. Be sure to choose natural and organic options, and treat pests early before they cause the plant to become susceptible to disease.²¹

How To Identify Moonflower (Identifying the Tropical White Morning Glory Vine)

Learning how to identify Moonflower plants can be a bit tricky, as it shares many characteristics with other morning glory vines as well as many species in other genera and families. Its similarity to non-related poisonous plants and related plants with invasive tendencies have given this delightful climber a bad reputation.

Thus, being able to reliably and consistently recognize the Moonflower vine will help it garner the appreciation it rightly deserves!

The following sections highlight the traits of the Moonflower vine, including those which are shared and those which are distinct from other species.

Identifying Moonflower Blooms (Morning Glory Flowers)

Moonflower blooms differ from other morning glory flowers in a few ways. First of all, unlike most morning glory plants which have blossoms which grow up to 4 inches in diameter, the Moonflower reaches a massive 6 inches!

Additionally, Moonflower blooms are exclusively white (with its pale green center star), compared with other morning glory varieties that boast showy hues of purple, pink, and blue.¹⁴

Although Moonflower has an open, trumpet-shaped bloom, it does not have the wide funnel from its center to its base that may be seen in other species, such as the wild sweet potato vine, Ipomoea pandurata.³¹ Rather, the face of the Moonflower blossom is mostly flat, with a narrow tube at its center.

And even though the tropical white morning glory is not the only species capable of blooming at night, it is the only morning glory species known to do so reliably. The large, white blossoms open much more quickly than their morning-blooming cousins, and they exude a sweet fragrance of vanilla and jasmine.²⁷

Identifying Moonflower Leaves

The leaves of the Moonflower plant, though not as striking as the blooms, are much more abundant and quite lovely. Moonflower leaves are large and cordate (heart-shaped), growing up to 8 inches in length and sometimes more than 6 inches across.

The leaves hang from the vine on thick petioles with the point oriented downward, away from the petiole. The rich green leaves are simple and arranged alternately.

The leaves of Moonflower plants often have leaves with margins that are entire rather than toothed or lobed, but some leaves on the plant may present with three lobes.¹¹

Identifying Moonflower Seeds

Moonflower seeds are another excellent way to identify the plant. Smooth, creamy white seeds are contained within a 1 inch long, tear-shaped, brown seed capsule.

The seed pod dehisces when ripe to release 4 rounded, fleshy seeds.¹¹

The seeds and seed pod differ greatly from the Moonflower bush (D. wrightii) which has a round, spiky capsule up to 2 inches across which is full of small, flat, brown to black seeds.⁶

Other Types of Morning Glory

Several other types of morning glory have made a name for themselves in one way or another, and many species of Ipomoea have become culinary staples in various regions and cultures,¹⁴ and others are noted for their medicinal value.

It is a fast-growing, twining, tropical vine which readily self-seeds and has become naturalized in many parts of the U.S. It is weedy in nature and is considered a “high invasion risk.”¹⁶

Ipomoea purpurea has been cultivated extensively,³² resulting in several desirable heirloom plants, such as the following varieties:¹⁵

• ‘Crimson Rambler’ Morning Glory: Red and white, bi-colored blooms
• ‘Grandpa Ott’s’ Morning Glory: Royal purple blooms
• ‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glory: Vivid blue blooms
• ‘Pearly Gates’ Morning Glory: Pure white blooms
• ‘Star of Yelta’ Morning Glory: Deep purple with pale pink to white funnel

The seeds of this species are poisonous to many animals. Because it becomes woody, it can be grown as a perennial in subtropical environments.

This Mexico native plant grows freely as ground cover and spreads via adventitious roots. The not abundant pink flowers grow to about half the size of the Moonflower.

There are several ornamental cultivars that make for great companion plants in an edible landscape.²⁰

This species is sometimes called swamp morning glory because of its habit of growing in areas with shallow water, such as ditches and ponds.¹²

Water spinach is incredibly fast growing, adding several inches of new growth each day, and it has become invasive in many non-native regions, including U.S. states where it has been introduced, such as Florida. Ipomoea aquatica was first introduced to the United States in the 1950s as a potential food crop, but its tendency to crowd out native species became problematic.

It is considered an aquatic invasive plant by the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center.³

This plant shares many characteristics with other morning glory plants, such as the funnel-shaped flowers, seed capsule, and alternating leaves. However, this plant is often seen floating atop shallow water.

Its hollow stems have milky sap, and its leaves are more lance-shaped rather than cordate. Blossoms are often lilac in color, and its seeds tend to be gray and hairy.¹²

Plants in the genera Convolvulus and Calystegia are classified as bindweeds but frequently as morning glory also.

Both genera house flowering plants with twining vines, and both genera also have species with weedy tendencies. Find additional information in the subsections below.

Convolvulus

Convolvulus is home to more than 200 species of vining plants, some of the most well known of which are the field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), the dwarf morning glory (Convolvulus tricolor), and the mallow bindweed (Convolvulus althaeoides).

The genus has worldwide distribution in temperate and subtropical climates. The species are usually vines but some can grow as small shrubs.

Calystegia

Calystegia is a much smaller genus with around 25 species, many of which are California natives. This genus is sometimes referred to as “false bindweed,” and it can be very difficult to differentiate the species from the closely related Convolvulus species.

The pollen of Calystegia is smoother, and the ovaries of the plants have a single cavity. Some well-known species include the hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium), the Japanese bindweed (Calystegia pubescens), and the upright bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea).

Differentiating Moonflower at Night From Other Flowers That Bloom at Night

A Moonflower at night is easily recognized by its large, round, fragrant white blooms cushioned in rich, luxurious foliage. Yet, there are several other flowers that bloom at night which are also noteworthy for their beauty and aroma.

Some of these prefer to bloom at dusk as the sun sets, and others wait to bloom under the moon and stars.

(Image: Craig Martin⁴²)

Some notable evening and night-blooming species are:^{8, 17, 25}

• Chocolate Daisy (Berlandiera lyrata): Chocolate-scented perennial wildflower native to the U.S. and Mexico with daisy-like flower heads that have yellow ray petals and a brown center.
• Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis): Biennial wildflower native to the U.S. with yellow, 4-petaled flowers on panicles.
• Evening Rain Lily (Zephyranthes drummondii): Native bulb flower with small, 6-petaled flowers that remain open for up to 4 days.
• Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata): Annual, South American wildflower with fragrant, colorful, 5-petaled, tubular flowers that bloom individually for a single night.
• Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia): Slow-growing herbaceous perennial which spreads by rhizomes and has narrow clusters of small, dainty white flowers.
• Four O’Clock Alba (Mirabilis jalapa): Central America native with colorful, evening-opening flowers pollinated by hummingbirds and moths.
• Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides): Evergreen shrub native to East Asia with full, fragrant white rosettes known to bloom through the evening hours into the night.
• Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius): A woody shrub native to Turkey with clusters of 4-petaled, highly fragrant white flowers.
• Night-blooming jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum): Shrub to small tree native to tropical and subtropical America with invasive tendencies.
• Night-scented Stock (Matthiola longipetala): Dense, mounding forb with small, slender-petaled flowers.
• Nocturnum Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum): Self-pollinating, fragrant epiphytic flower native to tropical America with an anise-like fragrance.
• Queen of the Night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum): Tropical epiphytic cactus native to Central America with large edible fruit and huge, fragrant, white blossoms. The flowers bloom one night a year for a few hours.
• South African Night Phlox (Zaluzianskya ovata): South African native evergreen perennial with notched white flowers.
• Tuberose (Agave amica): Perennial succulent native to Mexico with waxy, tubular, cream-colored flowers on spikes.

The tropical Moonflower vine, Ipomoea alba, is one of many types of morning glory, typically flowering vines that are insect and bird-pollinated and self-seed.

The Moonflower is unique in that it blooms at dusk with large, white, saucer-shaped flowers that remain open through the night mirroring the shining moon above.

Moonflowers are fragrant, beautiful, and less weedy than many types of morning glory. This article teaches readers to identify and grow the beloved Moonflower vine.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moonflower