Railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis) is 1 of 2 pioneering beach vines the grow in the front of beach dunes toward the Atlantic Ocean. This fast-growing morning glory, which can grow to be +30′ long, often forms dense mats that help to stabilize the beach. It grows along the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon including along mosquito impoundment dikes.
With the purplish funnel-shaped (2 – 3″) flowers characteristic of the morning-glory family (Convolvulaceae), railroad vine is a prolific bloomer …
Flowers open tin the morning and begin to fade in the later afternoon.
Pollinators including bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, flies, and ants visit the nectar-laden flowers Its fruit is a not-so-showy brown capsule …
Each capsule contains 4 seeds enveloped in a velvety coating …
Its species name, pes-caprae, means resembling a goat’s foot and refers to the coven shape of its alternate leaves …
Consider including this vigorous, salt and drought-tolerant vine in sunny locations in your landscape for its its gorgeous flowers, to provide nectar for pollinators, and to stabilize a shoreline. Remember that this vine is truly tropical and is not frost tolerant.
Enjoy the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area 