Moonflower (Ipomoea alba): The Enchanting Night-Blooming Vine

The moonflower (Ipomoea alba), also known as moon vine or giant white moonflower, is a captivating nocturnal bloomer that unfurls its large, fragrant white blossoms at dusk. This fast-growing annual vine is a favorite for evening gardens, where its luminous flowers glow in the moonlight and attract night-flying pollinators like moths.

Description

Moonflower produces heart-shaped leaves and twining stems that can reach 10–15 feet in a single season. The buds open rapidly in the early evening, revealing trumpet-shaped flowers up to 6 inches across. Each bloom lasts only one night, but the plant produces a succession of flowers from midsummer until frost.

Cultivation

Plant moonflower in full sun and well-drained soil after the danger of frost has passed. Provide a sturdy trellis, fence, or arbor for the vine to climb. Water regularly and fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer. In cooler climates, start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost.

Taxonomy

• Family: Convolvulaceae
• Genus: Ipomoea
• Species: alba
• Synonyms: Calonyction album, Calonyction aculeatum, Calonyction bona-nox, Ipomoea noctiflora, Calonyction pulcherrimum