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Ipomoea pes-caprae is a sprawling vine found on beaches from Texas across to Florida and up to Georgia. The flowers look similar to morning glory, hence the name beach morning glory, but the foliage is much different. It makes an excellent ground cover, with evergreen leaves and a quick-growing nature. What is beach morning glory? Well delve into that question together along with some fun beach morning glory info.
With its showy white blooms and ability to thrive in sandy coastal environments, beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) is a unique and useful plant. This trailing vine is commonly grown for ornamental purposes, dune stabilization, and as a hardy groundcover.
Ornamental Uses
Beach morning glory is prized by gardeners for its large, 2-inch wide flowers that resemble classic morning glories The blooms are white with yellow centers and open for only a day, usually in the morning. They appear summer through fall, providing months of floral display. The vines spread 10-20 feet wide and have attractive lobed, oval leaves
This plant is ideal for hot coastal gardens where few others can take the heat, wind, and salt spray. It thrives in zones 8-10 and is cold hardy only to around 20°F. Beach morning glory works well spilling over sea walls pathways, and planters. It can also be used as a groundcover, softened by its ephemeral blooms. Its ability to bloom through fall makes it a great late season source of color.
Sand Dune Stabilization
One of the most important uses for beach morning glory is dune stabilization. This vine is specially adapted to take hold and grow in shifting sands, preventing erosion. Its stems and leaves help trap sand particles, while the deep taproots anchor the plant and hold soil in place. Beach morning glory forms dense mats that stabilize the foredunes and areas up to the high tide line.
On developed beaches, beach morning glory is planted to protect dunes after construction activity disturbs the native vegetation The vines quickly spread to shield the sand from wind and water erosion The extensive root systems also aid in rebuilding protective dunes. Without plants like beach morning glory, beaches would erode and blow away.
Hardy Groundcover
With its spreading growth habit and tolerance of heat, drought, sand, and salt spray, beach morning glory makes an excellent durable groundcover for coastal gardens. It can quickly cover large areas of ground up to 20 feet wide.
Once established, beach morning glory requires little care or supplemental water. It thrives on low nutrients and handles environmental stresses that would kill most other plants. This tough vine stays evergreen in warm zones and can withstand a light freeze.
Its rapid growth helps beach morning glory out-compete weeds. It spreads faster from seed than cuttings, quickly occupying space and suppressing other growth. A thick mat of beach morning glory leaves little room for anything else to emerge.
Additional Uses
- Erosion control along shorelines, berms, and roadsides
- Cover bare ground in coastal parking lots or vacant lots near beaches
- Softens and adds color to rock walls, pavers, and concrete along shorelines
- Trails nicely over container plantings, softening edges and adding flow
- Extend blooming season in pollinator gardens by providing late season nectar source
Growing Beach Morning Glory
Beach morning glory thrives in full sun and sandy, fast-draining soil. It needs little watering or fertilizer once established. Propagate by seed or cuttings.
- Seeds must be scarified by nicking the hard coat before planting. No cold stratification is needed.
- Take stem cuttings in spring or summer. Dip in rooting hormone and plant in sand or soil.
- Space new plants 2-3 feet apart. Closer spacing creates a thicker groundcover faster.
- Water occasionally until established, then water only during drought. Just a few inches per month is sufficient.
- Avoid over-fertilization which can cause lush growth prone to disease. Occasional light feeding is all that is needed.
- Prune back rampant growth as needed to keep vines in bounds and prevent spread into unwanted areas.
With its tolerance of harsh coastal conditions and ability to stabilize dunes and cover ground, beach morning glory is a uniquely useful plant. The added ornamental value of its cheerful white blooms makes it a great choice for seaside gardens and landscaping. This carefree vine provides beauty and environmental services requiring minimal maintenance or care.
Beach Morning Glory Info
The tangled vines and deep taproot make growing beach morning glories perfect for stabilizing soil. Beach morning glories in gardens can perform as groundcovers. They are often seen tumbling in and over seawalls or along beach paths. Propagation is through seed or cuttings. Seeds do not need a dormant period but the seed coat must be scarified before germination, which occurs in every season but winter. These remarkable vines need little nutrition and have a high drought tolerance. To establish beach morning glories in gardens, take a cutting and set it into moistened sand. The internodes will shortly send out roots. Set them 3 feet (1 m.) apart and keep plants moist for the first few months.
What is Beach Morning Glory?
Beach morning glory is also called railroad vine due to its scrambling nature and ability to cover less used tracks and roadsides. It is adapted to coastal areas where sand is plentiful and the soil is well-draining. Salt, heat, and wind dont bother this plant and it is common to see it splayed across a dune in coastal regions. The large mats it forms help stabilize sand where it grows just above high tide. Beach morning glory can exceed 33 feet (10 m.) in length. It is native to coastal regions of North America and pan-tropical globally. In the U.S., it is hardy to zone 9 to 11. Leaves are 1 to 6 inches in length (2.5-15 cm.), double-lobed, thick, fleshy, and evergreen. The roots of this plant are often more than 3 feet (1 m.) into the sand. Flowers are funnel-shaped, darker at the corolla, and may be pink, reddish-purple, or dark violet. The perennial vine is just 16 inches high (40.5 cm.) but creates a tangled, low-growing thicket.
Growing Gorgeous Beach Morning Glory in Your Garden
FAQ
What is the use of beach morning glory?
Is Beach Morning Glory edible?
What is the morning glory plant used for?
Are morning glories good for anything?
What is beach morning glory?
Beach morning glory is also called railroad vine due to its scrambling nature and ability to cover less used tracks and roadsides. It is adapted to coastal areas where sand is plentiful and the soil is well-draining. Salt, heat, and wind don’t bother this plant and it is common to see it splayed across a dune in coastal regions.
Can beach morning glory be used as a groundcover?
In the right conditions, however, it can be used as a groundcover if closely maintained. Caution: Some species in the Ipomoea genus are known to be toxic to humans if ingested. Beach morning glory plants are often available at nurseries that specialize in native plants.
Where does beach morning glory grow?
Forming roots at the nodes, they provide a dense leafy cover. Native to the coastlines of tropical and subtropical areas across the globe, Beach Morning Glory occurs naturally on coastal dunes where it is an important sand stabilizer and colonizer after disturbances. Beach Morning Glory is excellent for beachfront homes and coastal landscapes.
Are beach morning glories a good plant?
Gardeners growing beach morning glories can breathe a sigh of relief. These plants are practically foolproof once established. The biggest problem will be their rapid growth rate and spread, but if you have a large area to cover, they are an excellent plant.