About
This twining climber up to 5m tall, usually grown as an annual, with three-lobed leaves. The crimson-flushed stems bear one-sided racemes of small, tubular, dark red flowers which fade to orange and then a creamy yellow in summer.
About the genus
Ipomoea can be annuals or perennials, often twining, or evergreen shrubs, with simple, lobed or dissected leaves and tubular or funnel-shaped flowers which may be solitary or borne in racemes or panicles
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Annual Biennial
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Native toMexico
ToxicityHarmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow as an annual climber in a moist but well-drained soil in full sun and sheltered from cold winds
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing seeds indoors for further advice
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free