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Ipomoea alba
  • Moonflower

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Ipomoea genus in the family Convolvulaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Ipomoea alba has 0 edible uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves and fleshy calyces - cooked. Steamed and eaten as a vegetable or used in curries, soups, stews etc[1]. They can also be dried for later use[1]. Seed - eaten when young[1].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Ipomoea alba.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The whole herb is used in treating snakebite[2].
There are no medicinal uses listed for Ipomoea alba.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water, or scarify the seed, and sow in individual pots in a greenhouse in early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 weeks at 22°c. Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate[3]. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter then plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of side shoots in a peaty soil. Layering.

Plants form tubercles on their stems[4]. These can be stored overwinter in a slightly moist medium such as sand or leafmould, keeping them in a cool but frost-free place. Pot them up in early spring.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Ipomoea alba. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a fertile well-drained loam in a warm sunny position[5].

This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. Another report says that plants need a minimum temperature of 5°c if they are to overwinter successfully[4]. A short-lived perennial or biennial species[6]. A fast-growing climbing plant, it is best grown as a temporary screen in the garden or along the boundary edge[5]. Plants need a long period of growth to reach flowering size and so are not very suitable for growing in pots in a greenhouse[4]. A climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around the branches of other plants[3]. The plant forms tubercles (baby tubers) on the stems and can be propagated by them[4].

The aromatic flowers open of a night time[7].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Ipomoea alba. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Ipomoea alba.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Ipomoea alba
Genus
Ipomoea
Family
Convolvulaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1]
Medicinal uses
[2]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5][2]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Climber
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    vigorous
    Mature Size
    10 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 [Flora of China] (1994-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins ISBN 0-00-219220-0 (1983-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    7. ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)

    "image:Moonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Ipomoea_alba&oldid=77919"
    Facts about "Ipomoea alba"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyConvolvulaceae +
    Belongs to genusIpomoea +
    Has binomial nameIpomoea alba +
    Has common nameMoonflower +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves + and Seed +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateVigorous +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has imageMoonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height10 +
    Has primary imageMoonflower, Moon Vine, Giant White Moonflower (Ipomoea alba).jpg +
    Has search nameipomoea alba + and moonflower +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameIpomoea alba +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheClimber +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Ipomoea alba + and Ipomoea alba +