Ipomoea cairica
A tropical to subtropical ornamental vine in the Convolvulaceae that has naturalized across Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the Americas, sometimes considered a weed, and grows rapidly with seeds and rooting stem fragments to smother native vegetation.
Common Names
Morning Glory, Cairo Morning Glory, Mile-A-Minute, Mile-A-Minute Vine, Railroad Creeper, Railway Creeper, Messina Creeper, Coastal Morning Glory, Coast Morning Glory
Summary
Cairo morning-glory, also called mile-a-minute vine, is a fast-growing climbing plant native to tropical Africa and Asia. It has twining, hairless stems that reach several meters, palmately lobed leaves with 5–7 lobes, and large funnel-shaped flowers that are purple, bluish purple, or white with a darker center; corolla measures about 4.5–6 cm, and seeds are 4–6 mm.
Under cultivation, it prefers full sun and warm temperatures in well-drained soil with regular watering. It is commonly grown as an ornamental and for covering slopes, walls, and other structures. Propagation occurs by seed and stem fragments, and movement via garden waste can spread it; trellising and regular pruning help manage growth, while it can be invasive in some regions.
Lifecycle
Perennial in warm zones, Annual in cooler zones (lifecycle depends on hardiness zone)
Height
10-21 feet
Spread
16-16.5 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 9-11
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun. Tolerates partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained sandy loam soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
6.5, slightly acidic soil, tolerates acid, neutral, and alkaline soils
Bloom Color
Purple
Bloom Time
All year round
Foliage Color
Green to light green
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast-growing
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Sweet
- Publication
- Hort. Brit. [Sweet] 287. 1826 [Sep-Oct 1826]
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Solanales
- Family
- Convolvulaceae
- Genus
- Ipomoea
Inferior Taxa
Ipomoea cairica var. cairica Ipomoea cairica var. gracillima Ipomoea cairica var. indica
Synonyms
Ipomoea bouvetii Batatas pulchella Convolvulus lupulifolia Convolvulus quinquelobus Convolvulus vittatus Exocroa egyptiaca Ipomoea buaralap Ipomoea frutescens Ipomoea jacquinii Ipomoea tuberculosa Ipomoea palmata Convolvulus cairicus Batatas senegalensis Ipomoea vesiculosa Convolvulus tuberculatus Ipomoea pentaphylla Ipomoea stipulacea Ipomoea cavanillesii Convolvulus cavanillesii Convolvulus limphaticus Ipomoea rosea var. pluripartita Ipomoea funaria Convolvulus bellus Ipomoea stipulacea f. pluriflora Ipomoea caerica var. obtusata Ipomoea tuberculata var. abbreviata Ipomoea cairica var. semine-glabra Ipomoea stipulacea f. uniflora Ipomoea digitifolia Ipomoea stipulata Ipomoea senegalensis Ipomoea tuberculata Batatas cavanillesii Ipomoea caerica var. uniflora