The lovely
MOONFLOWER
(Ipomoea
alba)
The Moonflower is my favorite flowering
vine. A showstopper of the evening hours, it's heavenly perfume carries through the
air on a warm summer night.
Easily started from seed, the Moonflower is a relative of the Morning-glory. Like the Morning-glory, it is a twining climber, and an annual plant here in Missouri. It likes well drained soil, even moisture, and 6 to 8 hours of full sun. Each huge (5 inch) fragrant blossom opens for only one evening, with more buds ready to burst into flower for the next evening's show. Even the foliage is elegant, bright green, heart-shaped leaves that delicately frame the flowers. Start from seed, indoors in pots a month before bringing outdoors. Presoak seeds in warm water overnight. You can also plant them directly in ground when the soil has warmed, after the last frost. Provide plenty of support as the vines grow.
Tip: You can interplant Moonflower
vine with Cardinal Climber Vine (Ipomoea x multifida), another morning glory
relative. The scarlet blossoms bloom in the morning and early afternoon, until the
Moonflowers open. Cardinal Climber's dainty flowers also attract hummingbirds.
Cardinal Climber Vine foliage is fringed and blends nicely with the foliage of the
Moonflower. This plant is easily (too easily) grown from seed. Mine sprouted
in three days, and grew rather quickly indoors. Best to start these outdoors in the
place where they are to grow.
The fragrance of the Moonflower attracts night blooming moths that pollinate the flowers. This particular moth came around at dusk, and was the size of a hummingbird. This large moth darted in and out of the flowers, as I watched.
