Weeds of Wednesday: Moonflower

Moonflower (Ipomoea alba), a.ka. moon vine or tropical white morning-glory, can engulf other vegetation, as shown below In the vicinity of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge …

Snow-white moonflowers can be up to 6″ across, and vines can be 60+ in length. The large fragrant flowers open around twilight, a bit earlier on cloudy days and later on sunny days. Nocturnal moths and bats pollinate this night-blooming plant. Its flowers fade and roll in on themselves with the coming of the day,

This fast-growing vine is native but can be aggressive. This vine is tropical and will be killed by freezing temperatures. In tropical Florida this vine is perennial, but in cooler climates it is grown as a showy annual that dies when cool weather arrives. Weed or wonderful wildflower? It’s a matter of locale and point of view.