Ipomoea is a genus of tenacious, flowering vines, shrubs, and small trees with over 600 species, and includes such commonly known plants as Morning Glory, Sweet Potato, and Moonflower. Species in this genus feature blooms of pink, lavender and purple or blue that open each morning and fade at night. They tolerate a wide range of average to poor soil and sunny to partial shade conditions. Though they are not perennial and grow from seed, they are very successful at spreading quickly, returning annually and can be difficult to control if allowed to get out of hand. The genus name comes from two Greek words: ips meaning "worm" and homoios meaning "resembling", in reference to the sprawling underground roots of plants in this genus or to the worm-like twining plant habit. To plant, nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight before planting. They are not listed as invasive in North Carolina but are listed on the USDA Noxious Weed site and in several surrounding states. Some varieties may be poisonous. In addition to the morning glory, Ipomoea also includes cypress vine and several cultivars. Many species in this genus will require a trellis, arbor, or other structure to support its vertical climbing habit. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: No major pest or disease problems of note; however the plant can reseed readily in warmer climates and may become problematic if the seedlings are left unchecked.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.