The Scarlet Creeper is an annual, flowering, herbaceous vine in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). It is native to Mexico and the eastern and central United States (although its status as a US native plant is questioned by some authorities) and is typically found along streambanks, roadsides, fields, and thickets. It is a fast-growing, attractive plant with heart-shaped (occasionally lobed) leaves and bright red flowers with a yellow throat. It has a reputation for escaping cultivation into moist soil and waste places and has been found as far north as Massachusetts and Michigan. Scarlet Creeper does best in full sun or partial shade, tolerates average to poor soil, and is drought tolerant. It is an aggressive climber on fences or trellis and, left to its own devices, will spread in the garden. To plant, nick the hard seed coat and soak overnight before planting. Scarlet creeper may be best used in a container or flowing over a rock wall. Diseases, Insect Pests, 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. More information on Ipomoea .
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and half as wide, broadly ovate and deeply cordate at base; margin entire or sometimes coarsely toothed or angularly lobed.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Cyme; Raceme
Flower shape
Funnel; Trumpet
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Small number of red flowers, often with a yellow throat, bloom from August to frost in a short cluster at the end of long axillary peduncles.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Light brown fruit displays from September to December.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Mexico, Eastern and Central United States
Wildlife value
Scarlet creeper is a food source for songbirds and hummingbirds. Flowers provide nectar to pollinators from August until the first frost. Attracts butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Rock Wall; Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Pollinator Garden
Garden tags
#stream banks #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #hummingbird friendly #Coastal FAC #food source fall #FACU Piedmont Mountains #butterfly friendly #pollinator plant #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #bird friendly #Audubon #nectar plant late summer #nectar plant early fall #nectar plant mid-fall #food source winter #vine #wildlife friendly #thicket
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses; Weedy
Resistant to
Drought
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
Vomiting, large amounts of seeds may cause hallucinations
Toxic principle
Indole alkaloids (Lysergic acid, lysergamide, elymoclavine and chanoclavine)