Ipomoea quamoclit (Cardinal Creeper or Hummingbird Vine or Star Glory) is a species of morning glory native to tropical regions of the New World from northern South America north to Mexico.
It is an annual or perennial herbaceous twining vine growing to 1-3 m tall. The leaves are 2-9 cm long, deeply lobed (nearly pinnate) with 9-19 lobes on each side of the leaf. The flowers are 3-4 cm long and 2 cm diameter, trumpet-shaped with five points, and can be red, pink or white; flowering is from early summer to late fall.
Cultivation and uses
It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant throughout the tropics, and also outside of tropical regions, where it is grown as an annual plant only, not surviving temperate zone winters. In some tropical areas it has become naturalized.Seedlings must always be kept moist. They require full sun for good growth. This vine is one of the best plants for attracting hummingbirds, and is a vigorous grower. In warmer climates this plant can be extremely invasive.
The "cypress vine" is a hybrid variety with Ipomea quamoclit as one parent.
References
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Ipomoea quamoclit
- List of plants of Caatinga vegetation of Brazil
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Last updated on Friday July 25, 2008 at 12:15:05 PDT (GMT -0700)
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